greater cleveland regional transit authority operating and … · 2017-04-11 · greater cleveland...

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Operating and Capital Budget for the Year 2017

GREATER CLEVELAND

REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

2017 ADOPTED BUDGET PLAN

PRESIDENT – BOARD OF TRUSTEES

GEORGE F. DIXON, III

CEO/GENERAL MANAGER, SECRETARY‐TREASURER

JOSEPH A. CALABRESE

user

Typewritten Text

user

Typewritten Text

user

Typewritten Text

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) presented an award of Distinguished Presentation to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority for its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning January 2016. In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, operational guide, financial plan, and communication device. The award is valid for a period of one year. We believe that our current budget document continues to conform to program requirements and we are submitting it to GFOA to determine its eligibility for another award.

DIRECTORY OF THE GREATER CLEVELAND

REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY OFFICIALS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

GEORGE F. DIXON, I II PRESIDENT

HON. DENNIS CLOUGH VICE PRESIDENT

VALARIE J. MCCALL

KAREN GABRIEL MOSS

NICK “SONNY” NARDI

HON. GARY A. NORTON, JR.

LEO SERRANO

HON. GEORGINE WELO

REV. CHARLES P. LUCAS

HON. TREVOR K. ELKINS

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM

JOSEPH A. CALABRESE CEO/GENERAL MANAGER, SECRETARY‐TREASURER

MICHAEL YORK DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, OPERATIONS

LORETTA KIRK DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

MICHAEL SCHIPPER DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, ENGINEERING & PROJECT

MANAGEMENT

SHERYL KING‐BENFORD DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, LEGAL AFFAIRS

BRUCE E. HAMPTON DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES

PETER ANDERSON CIO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

STEPHEN BITTO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

MICHAEL DAUGHERTY ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT &

BUDGET

ANTHONY GAROFOLI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INTERNAL AUDIT

FRANK POLIVKA DIRECTOR, PROCUREMENT

OPERATING DEPARTMENTS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS

1 ‐ OPERATIONS DIVISION

OLIVER DRAPER, DIRECTOR 31 ‐ PARATRANSIT DISTRICT

SEAN THOMPSON, DIRECTOR 32 ‐ RAIL DISTRICT

TERRENCE BOYLAN, DIRECTOR 33 ‐ ASSET & CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

JOHN JOYCE, CHIEF OF POLICE 34 ‐ TRANSIT POLICE

JOEL FREILICH, DIRECTOR 35 – SERVICE MANAGEMENT

RICHARD NEWELL, DIRECTOR 38 – SERVICE QUALITY MANAGEMENT

RON BARON, DIRECTOR 39 – FLEET MANAGEMENT

MICHAEL YORK, DGM 43 – PASS THRUS

DR. FLOUN’SAY CAVER, DIRECTOR 46 – HAYDEN DISTRICT

CATHERINE EATON, DIRECTOR 49 – TRISKETT DISTRICT

MICHAEL LIVELY, MANAGER 58 – INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

2 – FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION DIVISION

STEVEN SIMS, DIRECTOR 10 – OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

RAJAN GAUTAM, DIRECTOR 60 – ACCOUNTING

LORETTA KIRK, DGM, ACTING DIRECTOR 62 – SUPPORT SERVICES

FRANK POLIVKA, DIRECTOR 64 – PROCUREMENT

SCOTT UHAS, DIRECTOR 65 – REVENUE

3 – ENGINEERING & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIVISION

PAUL BURLIJ, MANAGER 55 – PROJECT SUPPORT

MARIBETH FEKE, DIRECTOR 57 – PROGRAMMING & PLANNING

JOSEPH SHAFFER, DIRECTOR 80 – ENGINEERING & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

4 – LEGAL AFFAIRS DIVISION

RICHARD CZECK, DIRECTOR 15 – SAFETY

SHERYL KING‐BENFORD, DGM, DIRECTOR 21 – LEGAL

JUDY LINCOLN, DIRECTOR 22 – RISK MANAGEMENT

5 – HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION

ELIZABETH JASZCZAK, DIRECTOR 14 – HUMAN RESOURCES

SCOTT FERRARO, DIRECTOR 18 – LABOR & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

GEORGE FIELDS, DIRECTOR 30 – TRAINING & EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT

6 – EXECUTIVE DIVISION

JOSEPH A. CALABRESE 12 – EXECUTIVE


JOSEPH A. CALABRESE 16 – SECRETARY/TREASURER – BOARD OF TRUSTEES


ANTHONY GAROFOLI 19 – INTERNAL AUDIT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

STEPHEN BITTO 53 – MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PETER ANDERSON 61 – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

CIO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MICHAEL DAUGHERTY 67 – OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE

MICHAEL DAUGHERTY ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KAY SUTULA ACTING MANAGER OF BUDGETS

CAROLYN YOUNG SENIOR BUDGET MANAGEMENT ANALYST

LARRY FERRELL COORDINATOR OF FINANCIAL SYSTEMS & BUDGETS

NATALIE ULRICH ENERGY MANAGER

WESLEY KESHTKARAN BUDGET MANAGEMENT ANALYST

KARI SOLOMON BUDGET MANAGEMENT ANALYST

ALYSSA DEIS BUDGET MANAGEMENT ANALYST

DAWN JA’NET WILLIAMS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

STEPHEN BITTO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

COVER ARTWORK

This page intentionally left blank

TABLE OF CONTENTS

59

Transmittal Letter 1 59

Citizens' Summary 2 All Funds Balance Analysis 59

A Strategic Approach to the Budget 5 61

Mission and Vision Statements 6 General Fund Balance Analysis 61

Values 7 General Fund Revenues 61

General Fund 8 Sales and Use Tax 62

Revenues 8 Passenger Fares 63

Expenditures 10 Investment Income 64

Expenditure Growth 11 Advertising & Concessions 64

Employment Analysis 13 Federal Operating Assistance 65

Service Levels 13 State Operating Assistance 65

Policy Compliance 14 Reimbursed Expenditures & Other Revenue 65

Capital Improvement Program 16 General Fund Expenditures 66

Conclusion 17 Employment Level and Service Level Chages 67

Fund Statements & Financial Policy Objectives 19 68

69

29 70

30 71

Introduction 30 72

All Funds 31 Balance Analysis 72

General Fund 32 Capital Improvement Fund Revenues 73

Capital Improvement Funds 34

Supplemental Pension Fund 36

Insurance Fund 36 75

Bond Retirement Fund 37 Strategic Organizational Improvements 75

Debt Financing 37 Balanced Scorecard 75

38 Fiscal Responsibility 76

Introduction 38 Voice of Customer 78

The Budget Cycle 38 Continual Process Improvement 81

Budget Monitoring and Control 39 Learning & Innovation 84

Budget Calendar of Events 40 TransitStat Engagement Surveys 89

Management Policies 41 SWOT Analysis 92

Management Policy Initiatives 41 Fuel Hedging 92

Strategic Plan Values 42

43

GCRTA History 43

Economic Profile 44

Service Profile 46

National Trends Profile 47

Ohio Transit Trends 48

49

Performance Management

Glossary

Strategic Plan

Service Profile

Transmittal Letter & Citizens Summary

Budget Guide

Fund Budgets

Organization of the Budget Plan

Financial Policies

Budget Management Process

Transmittal Letter

All Funds

General Fund

Fund Budget ‐ Appropriated Fund Structure

Bond Retirement Fund

Insurance Fund

Supplemental Pension Fund

Law Enforcement Fund

Capital Improvement Fund

TABLE OF CONTENTS

95

97 Division Summary 173

98 2016 Accomplishments 173

99 2017 Priorities 173

List of Departments 173

Division Summary 101 Human Resources 174

2016 Accomplishments 101 Labor & Employee Relations 177

2017 Priorities 102 Training & Employee Development 179

List of Departments 104

Paratransit District 105

Rail District 109 Division Summary 183

Asset & Configuration Management 114 2016 Accomplishments 183

Transit Police 116 2017 Priorities 184

Service Management 119 List of Departments 184

Service Quality Management 122 Executive 185

Fleet Management 125 Secretary/Treasurer ‐ Board of Trustees 187

Pass‐Thrus 129 Internal Audit 189

Hayden District 130 Marketing & Communications 191

Triskett District 134 Information Technology 194

Intelligent Transportation Systems 138 Office of Management & Budget 197

Fund Transfers 199

Division Summary 141

2016 Accomplishments 141 Introduction 201

2017 Priorities 141 Organization of the Capital Improvement Plan 201

List of Departments 142 Capital Assets 202

Office of Business Development 143 Facilities 202

Accounting 145 Rail Systems 204

Support Services 148 Revenue Vehicle Fleets 206

Procurement 150 Capital Improvement Planning Cycle 207

Revenue 152 Budget Calendar of Events 208

Transportation Improvement Program 208

Division Summary 155 Capital Budget Appropriations 209

2016 Accomplishments 155 Capital Improvement Financial Policies 209

2017 Priorities 156 Capital Improvement Criteria 210

List of Departments 156 Priority Areas 210

Project Support 157 Financial Capacity 211

Programming & Planning 159 Federal Sources 212

Engineering & Project Development 161 State Sources 214

Local Sources 215

Debt Management 215

Division Summary 163 Operating Impacts 216

2016 Accomplishments 163 Capital Project Categories 217

2017 Priorities 163 RTA Capital Fund 218

List of Departments 164 Asset Maintenance Projects 219

Safety 165 Routine Capital Projects 220

Legal 167 RTA Development Fund 223

Risk Management 170 RTA Development Fund Projects 225

Transit 2025 Long Range Plan 226

Department Budgets (continued)Department Budgets

Division ‐ Engineering & Project Mgt.

Division ‐ Legal Affairs

Division ‐ Human Resources

Division ‐ Executive

Division ‐ Finance & Administration

Capital Improvement Plan

Authority‐wide Organizational Chart

Expenditures by Division

Staffing by Division

Division ‐ Operations

Department Budget Introduction

Transmittal Letter & Citizens’ Summary 1

2017 TRANSMITTAL LETTER To: George F. Dixon III, President, Date: November 1, 2016

and Members, Board of Trustees

From: Joseph A. Calabrese, CEO Subject: 2017 Transmittal Letter

General Manager / Secretary‐Treasurer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I am again pleased to report that 2016 was yet another successful year at the GCRTA. Once again the

Authority was highly recognized on a national and international level for its best‐in‐class accomplishments.

In 2016 we continued focusing on enhanced communications with our employees and our customers, and

continued to deliver on our established mission, vision and values. We also continued our quest for continual

improvement of the Authority’s operations by expanding our process in obtaining ISO 14001 certifications to

the two Bus Districts, by implementing a predictive maintenance program to improve the quality of our bus

service, and by focusing on improving the quality of our capital assets.

As the GCRTA continues to effectively manage its financial resources, we continued our efforts throughout

the year to invest in capital projects to improve the state‐of‐good‐repair of our capital assets. Some

highlights were the delivery of 12 replacement trolley buses, entering into a contract for 43 additional 40‐ft

CNG buses, replacing four Tower City Station escalators in time for the Republican National Convention,

rehabilitating Platform 7 and began reconstruction work on Track 8 at the Tower City Station, which is

scheduled for completion later this year, rehabilitated the East 81st & East 83rd Street Track Bridges, and

completed rehabilitation work on three more Light Rail Crossings. By year‐end, we will dedicate redesigned

and ADA accessible stations at Shaker/Warrensville on the Green Line and at Brookpark on the Red Line.

With these and other capital improvement projects currently underway, there can be little doubt that RTA is

investing in the future of our region and public transportation system.

As we work hard every day, it is gratifying to see our progress through improvements in the dependability of

our bus and rail services, in our continuing progress to improve the quality of our capital assets, and in our

efforts to communicate with and to meet the needs of our customers. Many individuals and organizations

are recognizing the contribution we make to our community and our industry and recently, Cleveland was

named the best city in the country for visitors to go car‐free, in large part due the public transportation

services provided by the GCRTA.

During 2016, the GCRTA:

Participated in planning for and provided public transportation services during the Republican National Convention.

Received the from the Ohio State Auditor an Award with Distinction for excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for Fiscal Year 2015.

Was awarded the 2016 Technology Solutions Award for Telecommunications and Information Technology for the implementation of DriveCam.

Implemented a pilot program for Mobile Ticketing that has been successfully tested and we will continue to expand this new service for our customers in the upcoming budget year.

Continued on our journey towards the Baldrige Award for Excellence.


The following pages discuss the General Fund revenue and expenditure assumptions incorporated into the

2017 budgets. The proposed budgets support the daily operating activities of the Authority, will help to

improve the quality of its service delivery, and continues the path towards achieving a state of good repair in

the capital assets of the Authority. The uncertainty over what may happen in regards to the Authority’s Sales

& Use Tax base provides reason for concern, but the Authority is working with other State entities and the

State Legislature to favorably address the issue.

Over the last ten years the GCRTA has gone through and weathered several economic cycles, addressed

many challenges, and responded to increased service demands & opportunities. The first economic cycle

(pre‐2008) was a slow growth economy where Sales & Use Tax revenue was underperforming at a 1 percent

annual growth rate and service opportunities were limited. This was followed by a severe economic

downturn or “Great Recession” when Sales & Use Tax collections plummeted by nearly $19 million in 2009,

unemployment escalated throughout the County, and the GCRTA ended the year with a General Fund

balance of less than $2.9 million, an operating reserve of 3.5 days.

In response, a 12 percent service reduction was implemented in 2010, Harvard Garage was closed and 245

positions were eliminated. The fuel hedging Energy Price Risk Management Program was implemented and

dramatic fluctuations in diesel costs were managed and an Energy Management program was initiated to

reduce electricity costs. Also at that time, both operating and capital revenue was augmented by a one‐time

infusion of $46 million from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The GCRTA

utilized a portion of these funds to support operations through reimbursements for preventive maintenance

activities within the Operating Budget, but the largest portion of these funds were used to support State of

Good Repair (SOGR) capital improvements including the reconstruction of the East 55th, Puritas, and

Woodhill Stations, 20 replacement Paratransit buses, rehabilitation of three light rail crossings, and

construction activities on the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center.

These combined actions reduced annual operating expenses by approximately $30 million and as Sales & Use

Tax revenue recovered in the following years, the operating reserve jumped to the 30‐day goal with a balance

of about $20 million and, as a result, from 2011 to 2014 the GCRTA was in a very strong financial position.

Union negotiations were settled with an innovative contract that tied pay increases, up to 3 percent, to prior‐

year revenue increases for Passenger Fares and Sales & Use Tax. All personnel received a 3 percent wage

increase in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The current FOP and ATU contracts, set to expire in 2017, were

renewed following the same principle.

As Sales & Use Tax revenue was growing by 5 percent annually, grant‐funded preventive maintenance

reimbursements to the Operating Budget were significantly reduced resulting in more funds for needed

projects within the Capital Budget. During these years capital expenditures increased to $80‐90 million per

year as rail stations were reconstructed, track was repaired, 47 articulated buses & 90 new CNG buses were

purchased and a CNG fueling station was installed at the Hayden Garage.

The next financial trend began in 2014 as revenue growth slowed and expenditures increased substantially

as the 2014 General Fund year‐end balance declined by $11.1 million to $27.1 million. The decline in fund

balance continued in 2015, in part due to the elimination of Federal Operating Assistance grant awards,

resulting in an end‐of‐year fund balance of $17.1 million. In 2016, due to better than projected revenue from

the Sales & Use Tax, which has mostly offset a decrease in passenger fare revenue, a one‐time reduction of

the budgeted transfers from the General Fund to the Capital Funds, and good control of Operating Budget

has improved the end‐of‐year fund balance to a projected to $22.0 million, or $15.3 million better than


budget. Although budget execution continues to be strong, the GCRTA will need to react to a new set of

challenges in 2017.

As it currently stands, due to Federal requirements Medicaid Managed Health Care (MMHC) providers will be

removed from the Sales & Use Tax base effective July 1, 2017. The problem is that the State only includes

MMHC providers in the Sales & Use Tax base, but not all Managed Health Care (MHC) providers. The Federal

position is that the State cannot tax only a subgroup (MMHC) of the MHC providers, those funded through

Medicaid, and either needs to tax all MHC providers or none.

The problem is certainly not unique to the GCRTA. Under this change, if not mitigated, the State of Ohio will

realize a loss of approximately $500 million annually, Ohio’s 88 counties will realize an annual loss of

approximately $200 million and the eight transit agencies, that directly receive revenue from the Sales & Use

Tax, will realize a $38 million annual loss.

It is important to note that this impact was also felt by approximately eight other states which have

successfully addressed this loss by applying their sales tax to all MHC providers, and not just the portion that

was traditional paid for by Medicaid. Unless the State of Ohio takes action to correct the problem or develop

a revenue‐neutral fix by June 30, 2017, the loss of MMHC providers will cost the Authority approximately $18

‐ $20 million, or eight to ten percent, of its Sales & Use Tax revenue on an annual basis.

The revenues projected for 2017 assume the loss of the MMHC providers in July, but as receipts of these

revenues lag three months, the impact of the projected loss of $4.5 million won’t be felt until the last three

months of the year. In 2018 though, this amount will annualize to an expected loss of $18 ‐ $20 million and

require some significant steps be taken to achieve a positive sustainable budget.

Operating expenses are budgeted to increase at a faster rate than are projected revenues, primarily due to

the assumption that the State will not develop a revenue‐neutral fix to the MMHC providers issue and, if this

occurs, the GCRTA will see a loss of close to $20.0 million on an annual basis from its largest revenue source

the Sales & Use Tax. The GCRTA is participating in a unified approach involving Ohio Counties and other

Transit Agencies who are communicating their concerns to the State Legislature and developments on this

subject will be closely monitored through 2016 and throughout 2017.

The 2017 Budget includes one quarter’s loss ($4.5 M) from the assumed loss of revenue from the removal of

the MMHC providers and the ending balance decreases to $8.5 million as budgeted expenditures exceed

expected revenue by $13.4 million. The ending balance of the General Fund then unacceptably declines to a

negative $11.8 million in 2018 and to a negative $30.1 million in 2019 as the full impact of the loss of Sales &

Use Tax revenue is felt.

Alternatively, if a revenue‐neutral fix or correction is implemented by the State Legislature, the ending

balances of the General Fund Operating Budget in the three years would be approximately $12.1 million in

2017, $7.9 million in 2018, and $6.2 million in 2019. Though each is less than a one‐month reserve, through

continual improvements in service delivery efficiencies, management and positive execution of the annual

budgets, these balances will improve and the Authority will have approached a sustainable General Fund

Operating Budget where service delivery, the capital program and revenues are in equilibrium.

Despite the uncertainty over what the State can and will do on this issue, the GCRTA will continue its efforts

to effectively allocate available resources that can best meet the needs of its customers and maintain its

capital assets in a state of good repair. Effective budgeting and operations requires that contingency

planning begin to prepare for the possible loss in revenue, but hopes are that a solution will be found that will


at most minimally impact on the Authority’s most important and largest revenue source – the Sales & Use

Tax.

The Board of Trustees’ first review of the proposed 2017 – 2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) took place

on August 2, 2016 and subsequently authorized the 2017 Capital Budget Appropriations on August 16, 2016

allowing the Authority’s Capital program to be better aligned with the Federal fiscal calendar. The committee

will deliberate issues on the Operating Budget at a meeting on November 1, 2016 and again on December 6,

2016. Public Hearings will be held on December 6, 2016 at 9:00 AM and on December 20, 2016 at 9:00 AM.

At the Committee meeting on December 6, 2016, the Finance Committee is expected to make a

recommendation to the full Board of Trustees to adopt the proposed 2016 Operating and Other Funds

Budgets. Adoption will be considered at the December 20, 2016 Board Meeting.

The Operating Budget includes resources to fund rail, bus, and paratransit services and includes a new mode,

Van Pools, added in 2016 with implementation underway at the end of the year. The approved 2017 Capital

Budget provides resources for the on‐going replacement, rehabilitation, and/or maintenance of equipment

and facilities. In preparing the 2017 Operating and Other Funds Budgets, staff developed Fund Balance

Analysis statements for each major fund group, which summarize projected financial activity and ending

balances. The Finance and Operations Committees will review major revenue and expenditure assumptions

and trends, financial policy objectives, service and employment levels, and strategic initiatives. The capital

projects included in the 2017 – 2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) were reviewed and approved on August

16, 2016 and if changes are required, a request to amend the approved budget appropriation will be made

during the 2017 Budget Year.

The combined 2017 appropriation for operating expenditures totals $267.5 million, a slight decrease

compared to the $267.7 million appropriated for 2016. Based on Sales & Use Tax Revenue and Passenger

Fare in 2016, relative to 2015, a 2.7 percent wage increase for ATU employees was calculated for 2017 based

on the current contract, which will expire in the second half of 2017. The Operating Budget includes $196.5

million for Personnel Services: providing salary, overtime, and fringe benefit resources needed to fund 2,332

positions. This number is a decrease of nearly 30 Full‐time Equivalent (FTE) positions from the 2,361.75 FTE

positions include in the 2016 budget as a result of annualizing the service adjustments made in the second

half of 2016.

The establishment, execution, and management of the annual Operating Budget has an impact on the

Capital Budget. A strategic objective has been to maintain grant‐funded preventive maintenance

reimbursements to the Operating Budget at or below $20 million. This in turn provides additional funding

for the Authority’s capital program to maintain and improve its capital assets required for a public

transportation entity of this size and to meet the State of Good Repair requirements of the new

Transportation Legislation – Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act).

To reach and maintain a SOGR over the next five years, the Authority will need to replace its CAD/AVL Radio

System, identify funding for approximately 200 replacement buses for the Authority’s paratransit and large

bus fleets, install a CNG fueling station at the Triskett Garage, continue its aggressive track reconstruction

program, meet the remaining ADA Key Station deadlines, reconstruct various track bridges, improve rail

signalization and the overhead catenary system, as well as replace equipment at the end of its useful life.

A looming financial challenge over the next decade will be the need to replace the Authority’s aging Heavy

Rail and Light Rail fleets at a combined cost estimated at $250 million. The Authority must continue to focus

on state of good repair maintenance, rehabilitation and construction projects and the need to provide


customers with safe and reliable service. That strategy will become increasingly difficult if Operating

Reserves are not maintained at the 30 day goal and near impossible without a revenue‐neutral fix to the

looming Sales & Use Tax issue.

Over the last ten years, RTA has gone through at least three economic cycles with a fourth now underway as

revenues have not exceeded expenses for the last three years, in great part due to the reduction and

subsequent elimination of Federal Operating Assistance grant awards in 2016. At the same time, RTA is

continuing to execute its strategic plan and is continuing its efforts to improve the reliability of service

delivery through the implementation of a predictive maintenance program that represents a paradigm shift

in bus maintenance from reacting to a problem to identifying potential problems and proactively addressing

them before they occur.

STRATEGIC APPROACH TO THE BUDGET

In developing the budget as well as developing the business strategy, the Authority derives its direction from

the five Policy Goals identified by the Board of Trustees. These Goals, along with the Authority’s Mission

Statement, are shown below.

GCRTA MISSION

RTA provides safe, reliable, clean and courteous public transportation.

BOARD POLICY GOALS

I. CUSTOMER FOCUS: Provide safe, high‐quality service to all customers and

support our employees in that endeavor.

II. EXPAND AND REORGANIZE SERVICE: Expand and reorganize service to retain our current riders and attract new riders by providing service that meets

customer and community needs.

III. PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE: Prepare for the future by forging new partnerships and strengthening existing ones with the public and private sectors

to establish policies, funding, innovations, and technologies that support cost‐

effective public transportation.

IV. IMPROVE FINANCIAL HEALTH: Improve the agency’s financial health

through efficient use of resources and the pursuit of new and innovative revenue

sources.

V. PROVIDE COMMUNITY BENEFITS: Provide social, economic, and

environmental benefits to the community through system improvements and

increase community awareness of these contributions.

From 2007 to 2011, the business planning efforts were forced to highlight only two of the five policy goals as

most critical: Customer Focus and Improve Financial Health. After 2011, the improved financial status

allowed GCRTA to focus on Preparing for the Future and Providing Community Benefits. In an effort to

more effectively transition the strategic planning focus into the 2017 budgeting process, the evaluation of

requests and the allocation of funding for 2017 initiatives were linked to the business plan and most directly


to these four policy goals. Based on the current economic conditions, Expansion cannot be a priority at this

time. Rather Maintaining and Reorganizing service to retain the base and attract new customers is

objective.

In addition, RTA conducted a strategic planning initiative in the summer of 2014 with SWOT exercises and

analyses conducted with ten groups totaling over 120 people, including the Board of Trustees and the

Citizens Advisory Board. A two‐day planning retreat was held with the Executive Management Team and

Board participation. That retreat resulted in a new and updated Strategic Plan with nine Vital Few Objectives

and ten Change Initiatives for execution over the next 18 months. A new set of Mission, Vision, and Values

was adopted and are now in deployment. This will encourage greater internal communication and ensure

that all RTA employees know what RTA stands for and its vision for the upcoming years.

Figure 1


Figure 2


GENERAL FUND

REVENUES

With the continued reduction in ridership and lack of State support, a fare increase and service reduction was

implemented in August 2016. The 2017 budget projects $289.5 million in General Fund revenue and total

resources of $311.5 million. This is a $3.0 million increase in total resources compared to the 2016 year‐end

estimate. This increase is a result of a higher beginning balance compared to 2016 and a $2.5 million increase

in Passenger Fare revenue due to the annualized fare increase.

The chart below shows the percentage of each revenue stream for 2017. Sales & Use Tax has remained above

70 percent of total revenue, at 75.0 percent, showing a continued reliance on this revenue stream. Passenger

Fares is 16.2 percent of total revenue and has been slowly decreasing. In 2016 it was budgeted at 17.8 percent

but is projected to end the year at 15.2 percent of total revenue, as ridership fell. Reimbursed expenditures,

which includes grant‐funded and preventive maintenance reimbursements to the Operating Budget, is the

third largest source of revenue, at 7.6 percent

of total revenue for 2017.

The key to any budget is a realistic estimate

of revenues to support operations. This is

particularly true of a public entity such as a

transportation authority, which can only

provide the level of service that revenues will

support. The General Fund Balance Analysis

included as Attachment A, presents the 2017

Operating Budget in summary. The specific

assumptions and calculations for the

revenues included there are as follows:

PASSENGER FARES $46.9 MILLION

RATIONALE:

Ridership has continued to decline over the past several years. As fuel prices remain low, choice riders are

opting to drive to work rather than take public transit. The 2017 Budget includes an annualized increase in

base fare from $2.25 to $2.50. Costs for Paratransit service continue to rise. Consequently, an annualized

fare increase for Paratransit service from $2.25 to $2.50 per trip is included, as well as an additional increase

from $2.50 to $2.75 starting in August 2017. RTA is permitted to charge twice the fixed route rate for

Paratransit services. Currently, the Paratransit fare could be $5.00.

SALES & USE TAX REVENUE $217.1 MILLION

RATIONALE:

Over the past several years Sales & Use Tax collections have been fairly steady. The 2016 projection at the

end of the third quarter was $218.4 million, a 6.1 percent increase, mainly due to additional receipts received

in June from a 13‐month audit of a Medicaid company. The budget for 2017 projects Sales & Use Tax to

Figure 3


increase by 2.8 percent until October. Currently, the Sales & Use Tax base includes receipts from Medicaid

services. The Federal Government mandated Ohio Legislatures to comply with new regulations by June 30,

2017, prohibiting the taxing of a subset of Managed Health Care (Medicaid) providers. If the State decides to

not address this issue, all 88 Ohio counties, as well as transit authorities that receive Sales & Use Tax receipts,

will lose funding as

will the State of

Ohio. The Authority

is cautiously awaiting

the State’s decision

and budgeted for the

$4.5 million

reduction in revenue

for 2017 and then

annualizes this

decrease in the 2018

budget year.

ADVERTISING & CONCESSIONS $1.6 MILLION

ADVERTISING CONTRACT $1.15 M CONCESSIONS & NAMING RIGHTS $0.40 M TOTAL $1.55 M

RATIONALE:

The Advertising and Concessions Category consists of two subcategories. The first is the current advertising

contract. For 2017, the advertising contract is budgeted at $1.15 million. The second subcategory is the

naming rights for the HealthLine and the new Cleveland State Line and concessions that will net the

Authority about $402,000. Advertising revenues for 2016 are projected at $1.5 million by year end.

INVESTMENT INCOME $70 THOUSAND

RATIONALE:

For 2016, the Investment Income is projected at $70 thousand by year‐end as the Fed has kept interest rates

at all‐time lows in an attempt to spur the economy. Through the Third Quarter 2016, the Authority has

received 0.46 percent interest return on its investments. Income from this source is budgeted at $70

thousand for 2017 and the out‐years as ending balances will be dropping.

OTHER REVENUE $1.8 MILLION

OTHER REVENUE $1.2M TROLLEY ASSISTANCE $0.6M

TOTAL $1.8M

RATIONALE:

These other sources of revenue include contractor and hospitalization claim reimbursements, rent, salvage

sales, and identification card proceeds, among other miscellaneous receipts. The amounts received from

Figure 4


these sources have fluctuated over the years, mainly due to one‐time settlements and reimbursements. For

2017, the revenue projection is $1.2 million. As funding for the C‐Line and Nine‐Twelve Trolleys ended,

additional funding is being sought from area businesses to sponsor the Trolleys, similar to the B‐Line and E‐

Line Trolleys. RTA is seeking 80 percent funding, or $640,000, from the community and the remaining 20

percent will be maintained by the Authority.

REIMBURSED EXPENDITURES $22.1 MILLION

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE REIMBURSEMENTS $20.0M FUEL TAX REIMBURSEMENT $ 1.1M REIMBURSED LABOR & MATERIAL $ 1.0M TOTAL $22.1M

RATIONALE:

Reimbursed Expenditures category includes reimbursements for Preventive Maintenance (PM), fuel tax,

grant‐funded reimbursements for employee’s time spent working on capital projects, as well as other Federal

and State reimbursements. For 2017, Reimbursed Expenditures are budgeted at $22.1 million. Preventive

Maintenance at $20.0 million, $1.1 million for fuel tax reimbursements, and $1.0 million for force account

labor and other reimbursements. For the out‐years, $22.1 million is budgeted each year for Reimbursed

Expenditures. Increasing PM Reimbursement would, in turn, lower available funding for capital projects and

increase the difficulty of achieving and maintaining a state of good repair.

EXPENDITURES

Operating Expenditures for the 2017 budget include the appropriation and expenditure changes as described

below. As with revenues, expenditures are estimated not only for the 2017 Budget Year, but also for the two

consecutive out‐years. The General Fund Balance Analysis projections include those out‐years to

demonstrate the longer‐term impacts of various items contained in the 2017 Budget (collective bargaining

agreements, service changes, contract changes, as well as requirements of the Capital Improvement Plan,

etc.). An annualized 3 percent service reduction was budgeted for 2017.

The chart on page 13 summarizes the budgeted expenditures for 2017 and highlights the various areas of cost

increases included in the proposed

Operating Budget.

Compensation Issues include the

wage and fringe benefit payments

consistent with current collective

bargaining agreements with the ATU

and FOP, vacancy replenishments, as

well as expected cost increases

associated with health care and the

Ohio Public Employee Retirement

System (OPERS). An innovative

approach for wage increases was

approved by both unions that tied

wage increases for the current year to Figure 5


the increases in revenues for Passenger Fares and Sales Tax from the prior year. Both union contracts will

end in 2017 and negotiations to continue this innovative approach will be decided.

Health Care and prescription costs for 2017 are projected to increase by nearly 12 percent compared to 2016

levels, from $24.9 million estimate to a projected cost of $28.0 million. The employee contribution for health

care coverage is 14 percent and non‐smoking employees receive a one percent credit and employees who

complete an annual physical also receive a one percent credit from this amount. Those employees who

complete both received a 2 percent credit on their health care contribution. In the upcoming contract, co‐

pays and deductibles have been increased due to family size and employee monthly payments decreased.

This action makes employees more involved in their own care. It will also help avoid penalty payments in the

future under the Affordable Care Act.

Fuel costs have been stabilized through the Energy Price Risk Management Program. The balance of 2016

is hedged at an average price of $2.44/gal. For 2017, the average cost of fuel is hedged at $2.17/gal and 2018

at $1.73/gal. While 2019 is not fully hedged, the average price for the current 10 contracts is $1.63/gal. The

2017 budget for diesel fuel is $7.7 million.

Utility Cost Reduction Measures have been implemented, and will continue to result in significant cost

savings for the Authority. An electrical supply contract was secured in April 2016 for the period of June 2017

through May 2019. The rate contracted for the supply of electricity will result in 5.3 percent lower electrical

supply expenses in 2017, but the lower supply costs will be offset by increases in transmission charges. The

2017 budget for electricity is $2.8 million.

The Natural Gas supply is

contracted through mid‐

2017 ensuring budget

stability. A Request for

Proposal (RFP) was issued

on July 18th to contract

the next two years.

Compressed Natural Gas

for the CNG buses had an

average pre‐tax and

credit cost of $0.98/Diesel

Gallon Equivalent (DGE)

and after tax and credit

costs of $0.42/DGE.

Natural Gas and CNG

costs are projected at

$2.2 million for 2017

increasing from 2016 due

to increased use of CNG

buses and expected

higher costs for fuel and

delivery charges.

$252,148,521

Compensation Issues 7,944,521$ 4.2%ATU Contractual Increases 1,696,262$ Union Step Increases 982,505$ Health Care/Prescription Fringe Benefits 2,972,024$ Mechanics/Technicians/Maintenance 1,870,000$ Overtime - Bus Bridges/Special Events 423,730$

Fuel / Utilities 987,304$ 5.4%Diesel Fuel (976,658)$ Propulsion Power 692,837$ Natural Gas & CNG 374,805$ Other Utilities 896,320$

Service Opportunities 3,467,401$ 15.1%Purchased Transportation 331,925$ Tires & Tubes 261,377$ Maintenance Contracts & Services 2,740,447$ Training 133,652$

Other 2,947,667$ 13.2%Liabilities 1,513,464$ Miscellaneous 1,434,203$

Expenditure Growth 15,346,893$ 6.1%

2017 Budgeted Operating Expenditures $267,495,414

2016 Projected Operating Expenses

Areas of Expenditure Growth2017 Budget

Figure 6


TRANSFER TO THE INSURANCE FUND

The Insurance Fund has a required minimum fund balance of $5.0 million and is used to account for resources

to protect the Authority against future catastrophic or extraordinary losses. The Authority is self‐insured in

all areas except personal property and equipment. Expenditures in the Insurance Fund are used for

extraordinary claims and insurance premiums over $100,000. With the increase in safety measures, claims

have declined significantly and the budgeted transfer of $1.2 million for 2016 was reduced to $500,000. For

2017, a transfer of $2.4 million will be needed to maintain the $5.0 million level and to cover projected

insurance premiums and possible claims payments. In 2018 and 2019, transfers of $2.3 and $2.5 million,

respectively, are planned, due to higher premiums and projected claim payments. Continued safety actions

may allow these amounts to be lowered in the future.

TRANSFER TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL PENSION FUND

The Supplemental Pension Fund was established for payments of benefits relating primarily to certain retired

employees of the Authority and predecessor transit systems. Since 1986, the Pension Fund has also been

used to account for funds on deposit with the Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Board. The

Authority has no control over these funds, but is required to account for them in a trust. The 2017 budget

estimates that the Supplemental Pension Fund will need transfers of $75,000. For the two out‐years, 2018

and 2019, an additional $75,000 for each year is planned in order to maintain the necessary balance within

this fund as identified in a bi‐annual actuarial study.

TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL

In past years this measure, calculated as a percentage of Sales & Use Tax revenue, has remained well above

the Board goal of a maximum of 15 percent due to the significant decrease in Sales and Use Tax revenue that

occurred in 2009 and the inclusion of a number of capital grants to reimburse Operating Expenses, which

required a local match.

As Sales & Use Tax revenue recovered, this measure has fluctuated over the years to 17.1 percent in 2012,

falling back to 18.0 percent in 2013 and 18.4 percent in 2014. Between 2011 and 2015, General Fund Transfer

to Capital grew from $31.0 million to $38.1 million. In 2016 though, the projected transfers for capital totals

$31.4 million and equals 14.4 percent of Sales & Use Tax revenue. Local funds are transferred to the capital

program to provide the local match for preventive maintenance expenditures and for other locally funded

state of good repair projects that are ineligible to fund with debt service.

Overall, the projected 2016 combined transfer to capital of $31.4 million is close to $7.2 million below

budget. This amount includes $9.5 million for payment of 100 percent locally funded capital projects, a

decrease of $6.1 million versus budget due to a planned lowering of the balance of 100 percent local funds

used for RTA Development Fund projects, and the $21.9 million transfer to the Bond Retirement Fund for

debt service payments associated with existing debt service is $1.1 million below the 2016 Budget due to

savings from a refinancing of existing debt service earlier this year.

In 2017, the transfer to capital will increase to $32.6 million, or 15.0 percent of Sales & Use revenue, as

additional local funds are transferred to capital to meet the financial needs of the capital improvement


program and debt service payments. In 2018, the transfer to capital will slightly decrease to $32.5 million, or

15.5 percent of Sales & Use Tax revenue as the impact of the loss of MMHC providers and a decrease in

revenue is felt. These transfers will then decrease to $32.4 million, or 15.1 percent, in 2019. This measure may

be impacted if additional debt service is needed in the future. The high level of this measure continues to

highlight the difficulty created by increased capital and debt service needs in times of constrained revenue.

EMPLOYMENT LEVEL ANALYSIS

The 2017 Budget reflects staffing of 2,332.0, an

overall decrease of 30 positions from the 2016

budget.

The pie chart represents the relative

employment levels within each division.

With the 3 percent service reduction annualized

in 2017, Operator positions were reduced by 31.0

positions. Safety initiatives have increased over

the past several years and the focus will continue

in 2017 due to increased State safety oversight

for rail. A part‐time position was included to

accommodate these needs. The Safety

Awareness Coordinator audits operators to

ensure they are using safe practices. As Operators continue to think “Safety”, preventable incidents

decrease. One of the Authority’s VFOs (Vital Few Objectives) is to decrease preventable incidents, the need

for this position is substantiated. On the administrative side, one Administrative Assistant position has been

included for one‐half of the year, effective July 1st, for the Information Technology (IT) Department. The

position will only be filled after mid‐year if the pending issue with the Sales & Use Tax base is resolved by the

State.

SERVICE LEVELS

Service hours and miles have increased slowly over the years as funding and needs increased. Since 2015,

however, ridership has slowly dropped as gas prices have remained low and choice riders elected to drive

rather than take public transit. A plan was proposed in 2015 to decrease service but was postponed until

August 2016. A 3 percent service reduction is annualized in 2017 for bus and rail modes. Paratransit service

and needs continue to increase and is budgeted in 2017 with a 1.5 percent increase.

Work on the rail tracks and stations has demanded the increase need for bus bridges while the rail lines are

down. Many of these bus bridges are factored into the 2017 budgeted service levels. The projected bus

service hours and miles are shown on the chart below. These updated service levels are compared to the

budgeted service levels for 2016, which has accounted for bus bridges during rail work.

Figure 7


A new pilot program for a van pool service was budgeted for 2016 and was set to begin toward the end of the

year. The 2017 budget includes funding for the new contract where the vendor will set up and provide the

van pool service for our customers.

POLICY COMPLIANCE

The discussion in this section focuses on the financial status of GCRTA as it relates to the Authority’s basic

adopted financial policy objectives. These objectives represent trends or indicators that should be analyzed

as they relate to long‐range financial implications for the organization. These financial policy objectives were

amended in August 2011. The financial policies or trends, as outlined in Attachment B, are applied to the

following areas:

OPERATING EFFICIENCY

An OPERATING RATIO of at least 25 percent is the policy goal. This ratio will not meet the objective for

2017, at 18.2 percent, as ridership has decreased over the past several years. RTA has not increased fares for

seven years. The 2017 Budget includes a fare increase and a 3 percent service reduction. Base fare were

increased from $2.25 to $2.50 in 2016, and an additional Paratransit fare increase is budgeted from $2.50 to

$2.75 in August 2017. RTA will need to control expenses throughout the year in order to end the year with a

ratio above 20 percent.

The COST PER HOUR OF SERVICE is to be maintained at or below the level of inflation (under 2 percent

for 2017 per the Cleveland Fed). For 2017, operating costs are increasing by 6.3 percent, compared to the 2016

estimate. Service hours are scheduled to decrease by 1.6 percent. At a budgeted rate of 12.4 percent, this

measure will not be met.

The goal that is most easily understood and tracked is the ONE‐MONTH OPERATING RESERVE. This

objective requests the Authority should have a year‐end balance equal to one month’s operating costs (1.0).

The Operating Reserve objective is projected to be met in 2016. For 2017, a one‐month operating reserve is

equal to $22.3 million. With a budgeted ending balance of $8.5 million, 0.4‐months reserve, the Authority will

2016 2016 2017 Percent 2016 2016 2017 PercentService Mode Budget Estimate Budget Variance Variance Budget Estimate Budget Variance Variance

Rail Heavy Rail(Red) 148,088 141,280 147,000 (1,088) -0.7% 2,758,293 2,669,992 2,700,000 (58,293) -2.1% Light Rail(Blue/Green) 61,985 57,886 59,000 (2,985) -4.8% 895,025 769,027 830,000 (65,025) -7.3%Total Rail 210,073 199,166 206,000 (4,073) -1.9% 3,653,318 3,439,019 3,530,000 (123,318) -3.4%

Bus RTA 1,376,803 1,341,757 1,340,000 (36,803) -2.7% 16,566,033 16,087,653 16,000,000 (566,033) -3.4%Total Bus 1,376,803 1,341,757 1,340,000 (36,803) -2.7% 16,566,033 16,087,653 16,000,000 (566,033) -3.4%

Paratransit In-House 189,041 170,165 194,712 5,671 3.0% 2,633,475 2,288,668 2,229,065 (404,410) -15.4% Contract 205,312 214,759 208,392 3,080 1.5% 2,885,414 3,066,272 3,372,899 487,485 16.9%Total Paratransit 394,353 384,924 403,104 8,751 2.2% 5,518,889 5,354,940 5,601,964 83,075 1.5%

Grand Totals 1,981,229 1,949,104 (32,125) -1.6% 25,738,240 25,131,964 (606,276) -2.4%

Van Pool 29,000 - 12,000 (17,000) -58.6% 640,000 - 300,000 (340,000) -53.1%29,000 12,000 (17,000) -58.6% 640,000 300,000 (340,000) -53.1%

2017 Budget Service Levels By ModeCompared to 2016 Budgeted Service Levels by Mode

Service Hours Service Miles

Figure 8


not meet this measure. For the two out‐years, this policy goal is also not projected to be met at ‐0.5‐month

and ‐1.3‐month, respectively.

CAPITAL EFFICIENCY

The goal for the DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE ratio is to be above 1.5. Due to the impact of the recent

recession, this measure had declined to a low of 1.14 at the end of 2009. The ratio improved to 2.02 in 2010

as revenue from the Sales & Use Tax recovered and again increased in 2011, to 2.82 at the end of the year as

Tax receipts continued to grow, the Authority stretched the use of its 2008 borrowing for four years, and pre‐

paid a State Infrastructure Bank loan in 2011. Between 2014 and 2016, the debt service coverage continued

to meet the Board Policy goal, though slowly declining in each year from 2.38 in 2014, to 1.80 in 2015, to a

projected 2.10 at the end of 2016. At a projected 1.48 in 2017, it will be close to, but is not expected to meet

the goal due to the projected decline in Sales & Use Tax revenue.

Another financial goal is to contribute a minimum of 10 percent and up to a maximum of 15 percent of Sales

Tax revenue to capital. This indicator includes both the direct contributions to capital and the amount “set‐

aside” in the General Fund for debt service. The CONTRIBUTION TO CAPITAL has been above the

maximum of 15 percent since 2009 as Sales & Use Tax collections plummeted in that year losing 11 percent

of revenue. The Authority initially cut capital expenditures but could not make cuts of that magnitude, meet

its debt service requirements, and still support and maintain the service needs of the Authority.

The financial contributions to the capital programs support 100 percent locally funded capital projects,

provide the local match for projects funded by grants, and funds the Authority’s debt service requirements.

The added contribution of 18.4 percent in 2014 was due to transfers of additional local funds needed for

multi‐year bus replacement program and to meet the financial needs of the Authority’s capital programs.

The contribution to capital held steady at 18.5 percent in 2015 before declining to 14.4 percent in 2016. This

decline in contribution will continue at 15.0 percent in 2017, but increase to 15.5 percent in 2018 and 15.1

percent in 2019 as the decreases in Sales & Use Tax revenue also impacts this measure.

The projected ratio of 96.3 percent in 2016 for CAPITAL MAINTENANCE OUTLAY TO CAPITAL

EXPANSION is above the Board Policy goal of between 75 percent and 90 percent due to a large number of

State of Good Repair (SOGR) capital maintenance projects including the bus improvement program,

reconstruction of heavy and light rail stations, and track infrastructure projects. It will remain above the 90.0

percent maximum in 2017, at 94.1 percent, as the focus of the Authority’s capital program remains on the

maintenance, rehabilitation, and the replacement and/or upgrade of existing capital assets, rather than on

expansion projects. This measure is expected to remain above the maximum of 90 percent, at 92.5 percent

in 2018 and 2019, due to the focus of the 2017‐21 Capital Improvement Plan on state of good repair projects

throughout the Authority.

In 2017, only one of the six objectives will be met due to constrained revenue. The major factors include

elimination of $5.0 million grant funds that help subsidize operation, the increase in operating expenses over

the past years, and the growing demand in capital projects to maintain a state of good repair.


The OPERATING RATIO will be a projected 18.2 percent, below the goal of 25 percent, due to the increase

in the operating budget and decrease in passenger fare revenue. The Operating Budget Growth per Year is

programmed to increase by 12.5 percent, above the rate of inflation, but with execution is expected to be

reduced and the SALES & USE TAX CONTRIBUTION TO CAPITAL is expected to be at 14.4 percent in

2017 with the focus of capital projects on maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of current assets. In

2018, only one out of the six financial policy goals will be achieved, Growth per Year, the cost of delivering a

unit of service and in 2019 none of the Board Goals will be met as the full impact of decreasing revenue from

the Sales & Use Tax is felt.

The Authority has been able to improve internal processes over the past five years and reduce costs to enable

shifts of financial resources to address many SOGR capital projects. The GCRTA must continue to maintain

a balance between operating and capital funds to stay successful and develop plans to address the significant

challenges it will fact in the upcoming years.

END OF YEAR RESERVE FUNDS

RTA has made a decision to reduce grant funded preventive maintenance reimbursements to the Operating

Budget and redirect those funds to increase Capital expenditures. Transit is a capital‐intensive business and

the Authority addressed some of the capital needs to ensure a state of good repair. Operating costs are rising

and are budgeted at $267.5 million for 2017 with a budgeted ending balance for of $8.5 million. If the GCRTA

is to remain financially sustainable in the future, a 30‐day operating reserve must be met while maintaining

PM reimbursement under $20.0 million is going to become increasingly difficult.

A transfer to the Rolling Stock Reserve Fund is budgeted to reserve a percentage of the year‐end balance for

future purchases of revenue vehicles. This Fund would reserve 10 percent of the balances over $5 million and

5 percent if the balances is under $5 million. This fund will help to create the local match needed for revenue

vehicle purchases. The 2016 estimate for the transfer is $2.4 million. The budgeted transfer for 2017 is $0.4

million.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2017‐2021 was approved by the Board in August 2016. It provides for

the purchase, maintenance, and improvement of the Authority’s capital assets through a programmed

allocation of available financial resources. The capital assets of the Authority are varied and include such

items as buses, rail cars, rail right‐of‐way infrastructure, facilities, equipment, non‐revenue vehicles, and

other capital assets needed to support the on‐going operations of the Authority. The life cycle of these

capital assets extends over a period of years and effective capital improvement planning provides the

framework for scheduling improvements based on the availability of resources, the condition of assets, and

the priorities among submitted capital projects. The capital‐intensive nature of public transportation makes

long‐term financial planning, as well as effective implementation and completion of programmed capital

projects on a timely basis, indispensable.

As in previous years, additional resources are needed to meet the needs of maintaining the Authority’s capital

assets in a SOGR. In recent budget years, due to the improved financial conditions of the Authority additional

funding was supplied to the capital program by strategically reducing grant funded Preventive Maintenance

(PM) reimbursements to the Operating Budget and directing more resources towards capital asset


improvements. After the 2008 Recession, the upturn in the balance of the General Fund triggered a reduction

in actual PM reimbursements from $21.6 million in 2011 to a low of $9.6 million in 2013. This recent trend

was reversed in the current year as growth of the General Fund balance slowed and projected PM

reimbursements have grown to a projected $21.2 million in 2016. For 2017, Preventive Maintenance

reimbursements are budgeted at $20.0 million and are expected to remain at this amount in the following

two years.

The allocation of capital funds and budget authority in recent years have targeted a significant number of

SOGR projects throughout the Authority. Financial resources were allocated through a capital review

process that prioritized both budgeted, unfunded capital projects as well as consideration of new capital

projects. It continues to maintain the focus of the Authority’s capital program on achieving and maintaining

a State of Good Repair throughout the system as it continues to reflect existing and future financial and

operational constraints facing the Authority. The Authority should replace 30‐35 buses per year over the next

five years at an annual cost of $17.5 million of which, 43 40‐Ft CNG buses are currently on order and 2017 and

early 2018, while at the same time it need to invest in the reconstruction of rail stations to meet ADA key

station standards, and its rail track, bridges, rail signals & electrical system, and overhead catenary.

The Authority’s capital projects are grouped in the proposed 2017 – 21 Capital Improvement Plan shown on

the following page.

CONCLUSION

GCRTA has managed well over the past few years. As the growth in revenues and resources slow, increasing

operating costs are making it difficult to end with a 30‐day balance. The 2017 budget annualizes the fare

increase and the 3 percent service reduction implemented in August 2016, but difficult decisions may lie

ahead in 2017 through 2019 in order to mitigate a potential yet significant decrease in revenues due to

Medicaid services possibly being removed from the Sales & Use Tax base. As in the past, the GCRTA will take

the necessary actions as the budgeted operating reserve falls.

PROJECT CATEGORY 2017 Budget 2018 Plan 2019 Plan 2020 Plan 2021 Plan 2017-2021

Bus Garages $0 $2,400,000 $5,450,000 $0 $0 $7,850,000

Bus Improvement Program $12,844,595 $21,958,227 $20,000,000 $20,000,000 $24,000,000 $98,802,822

Equipment & Vehicles $2,634,600 $8,060,176 $7,100,825 $4,850,000 $4,290,000 $26,935,601

Facilities Improvements $5,532,000 $8,768,724 $12,812,061 $7,236,890 $7,932,890 $42,282,565

Other Projects $2,271,450 $2,272,250 $2,273,750 $2,273,750 $2,275,250 $11,366,450

Prev. Maint./Oper. Reimb. $20,000,000 $20,000,000 $20,000,000 $20,000,000 $20,000,000 $100,000,000

Rail Projects $20,492,642 $24,968,485 $25,208,719 $13,316,000 $11,175,000 $95,160,846

Transit Centers $320,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 $1,520,000

TOTALS $64,095,287 $88,727,862 $93,145,355 $67,976,640 $69,973,140 $383,918,284

2017 - 2021 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANCombined Budget Authority

Figure 9


Additional funding from the state would be helpful. In 2015, the state conducted a study in the indicating

that funding for public transportation was inadequate. Despite that, no additional funding was budgeted for

public transportation nor was included in the State’s latest budget. The GCRTA must manage within its

current resources and control its expenses accordingly. Along with that, the GCRTA must continue to

improve its operational efficiencies and effectiveness to provide quality service and meet its commitments

to its customers while at the same time it must maintain the necessary funds sustain operations and keep its

infrastructure in a state of good repair. The proposed 2017 General Fund and the Other Fund Budgets achieve

that goal, but at the same time indicate that significant financial issues may lay ahead in the upcoming year.

Assumptions: Passenger Fare Annual Growth = 0.8% -1.4% -8.4% 5.7% 3.5% 4.2%

Sales & Use Tax Annual Growth = 3.9% 4.4% 6.1% -0.6% -3.5% 2.5%Personnel & Fringe Cost Growth = 7.2% 2.9% 1.0% 4.2% 1.4% 2.0%

Non-Personnel Cost Growth = 7.9% -2.5% -2.3% 11.6% -1.5% 1.8%Operating Expenses Growth = 7.4% 1.5% 0.2% 6.1% 0.6% 2.0%

Capital Contribution = 36,355,543 38,125,229 31,354,360 32,560,814 32,503,891 32,386,27118.4% 18.5% 14.4% 15.0% 15.5% 15.1%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Actual Actual Estimate Budget Plan Plan

Beginning Balance 38,394,322 27,116,140 17,143,130 21,970,199 8,521,488 -11,797,127

Revenue Passenger Fares 49,085,267 48,419,211 44,346,663 46,872,000 48,500,000 50,550,000 Advertising & Concessions 1,488,870 1,442,677 1,450,000 1,552,000 1,677,000 1,727,000 Sales & Use Tax 197,118,146 205,843,321 218,360,330 217,100,000 209,500,000 214,700,000 Federal Operating Assistance - Various 7,232,534 4,579,048 0 0 0 0 Trolley Assistance 0 0 640,000 640,000 640,000 640,000 Investment Income 169,211 153,534 70,000 70,000 70,000 70,000 Other Revenue 1,470,683 1,254,771 1,640,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 Reimbursed Expenditures 17,570,406 19,720,588 24,864,091 22,075,000 22,075,000 22,075,000Total Revenue 274,135,117 281,413,150 291,371,084 289,509,000 283,662,000 290,962,000

Total Resources 312,529,439 308,529,290 308,514,214 311,479,199 292,183,488 279,164,873

Operating Expenditures Salaries and Overtime 132,536,216 138,437,922 136,587,109 143,299,426 145,723,494 149,449,004 Fringe Benefits 48,769,442 48,170,869 51,975,651 53,207,855 53,469,093 53,731,630 Diesel Fuel 14,335,896 10,804,133 8,718,658 7,742,000 6,528,000 7,009,000 Natural Gas 957,626 1,119,725 1,165,167 2,245,000 2,269,000 2,501,000 Other Expenditures 51,458,576 53,128,282 53,701,937 61,001,133 61,112,137 61,676,468Total Operating Expenditures 248,057,756 251,660,931 252,148,522 267,495,414 269,101,724 274,367,102 Transfer to the Insurance Fund 900,000 1,500,000 500,000 2,400,000 2,300,000 2,450,000Transfer to the Pension Fund 100,000 100,000 100,000 75,000 75,000 75,000Transfers to Capital Bond Retirement Fund 20,480,914 22,615,956 21,882,300 19,284,420 19,026,390 18,073,085 Capital Improvement Fund 15,874,629 15,509,273 9,472,060 13,276,394 13,477,501 14,313,186Total Transfers to Capital 36,355,543 38,125,229 31,354,360 32,560,814 32,503,891 32,386,271Transfers to Rolling Stock Reserve Fund 0 0 2,441,133 426,483 0Total Expenditures 285,413,299 291,386,160 286,544,015 302,957,711 303,980,615 309,278,373

Ending Balance 27,116,140 17,143,130 21,970,199 8,521,488 -11,797,127 -30,113,500Reserved Funds 6,900,000 0 0 0 0 0Available Ending Balance 20,216,140 17,143,130 21,970,198 8,521,488 -11,797,128 -30,113,501

General Fund Balance Analysis ATTACHMENT A

Includes removal of MMHC providers from Sales & Use Tax

19

Goal2014

Actual2015

Actual2016

Estimate2017

Budget2018 Plan

2019 Plan

Operating Ratio > 25% 20.6% 19.9% 18.2% 18.2% 18.7% 19.1%

Cost/Hour of Service $123.8 $139.8 $133.6 $150.1 $144.0 $155.5

Growth per Year< Rate of Inflation

-4.1% 12.9% -4.4% 12.3% -4.0% 8.0%

Operating Reserve (Months)

> 1 month 1.3 0.8 1.0 0.4 -0.5 -1.3

Debt Service Coverage > 1.5 2.38 1.80 2.10 1.48 0.38 -0.66

Sales Tax Contribution to Capital

10% - 15% 18.4% 18.5% 14.4% 15.0% 15.5% 15.1%

Capital Maintenance to Expansion

75% - 90% 95.7% 98.9% 96.3% 94.1% 92.5% 92.5%

Cap

ital

Eff

icie

ncy

Reduced Sales & Use Tax Base

Op

erat

ing

Eff

icie

ncy

2017 Budget Financial Policy Objectives

ATTACHMENT B

20


Beginning Balance 40,656,567 25,434,449 44,613,977 25,393,695 34,072,747 11,437,906

Revenue Transfer from General Fund 15,874,629 15,509,273 9,472,060 13,276,394 13,477,501 14,313,186 Investment Income 67,238 207,421 73,000 73,000 63,000 72,000 Federal Capital Grants 58,199,720 75,819,587 61,250,000 59,345,000 62,790,000 71,285,500 State Capital Grants 2,046,063 534,487 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 Debt Service Proceeds 0 30,000,000 0 30,000,000 0 25,000,000 Other Revenue 72,916 9,000 0 0 0 0

Total Revenue 76,260,565 122,079,768 72,179,718 104,079,052 77,715,159 112,055,344 Total Resources 116,917,132 147,514,216 116,793,695 129,472,747 111,787,906 123,493,250 Expenditures Capital Outlay 91,482,683 102,900,240 91,400,000 95,400,000 100,350,000 103,400,000 Other Expenditures 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total Expenditures 91,482,683 102,900,240 91,400,000 95,400,000 100,350,000 103,400,000 Available Ending Balance 25,434,449 44,613,977 25,393,695 34,072,747 11,437,906 20,093,250

Capital Improvement Fund Balance Analysis ATTACHMENT C

21


Beginning Balance 38,924,890 23,911,529 42,499,967 23,021,880 32,041,453 9,347,692 Revenue Debt Service Proceeds 0 30,000,000 0 30,000,000 0 25,000,000 Transfer from RTA Capital Fund 11,734,255 11,649,255 5,334,255 9,536,915 9,688,581 10,560,555 Investment Income 54,038 185,574 53,000 53,000 43,000 52,000 Federal Capital Grants 58,199,720 75,819,587 61,250,000 59,345,000 62,790,000 71,285,500 State Capital Grants 2,046,063 534,487 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 Other Revenue 0 9,000 0 0 0 0

Total Revenue 72,034,076 118,197,903 68,021,913 100,319,573 73,906,239 108,282,713

Total Resources 110,958,966 142,109,432 110,521,880 123,341,453 105,947,692 117,630,405

Expenditures Capital Outlay 87,047,437 99,609,466 87,500,000 91,300,000 96,600,000 99,700,000 Other Expenditures 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total Expenditures 87,047,437 99,609,466 87,500,000 91,300,000 96,600,000 99,700,000 Ending Balance 23,911,529 42,499,967 23,021,880 32,041,453 9,347,692 17,930,405

RTA Development Fund Balance Analysis ATTACHMENT D

22



Revenue Transfer from General Fund 15,874,629 15,509,273 9,472,060 13,276,394 13,477,501 14,313,186 Investment Income 13,200 21,847 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 Other Revenue 72,916 0 0 0 0 0

Total Revenue 15,960,744 15,531,120 9,492,060 13,296,394 13,497,501 14,333,186 Total Resources 17,692,421 17,054,039 11,606,070 15,668,209 15,528,795 16,423,400

Expenditures Asset Maintenance 1,627,995 1,415,840 1,650,000 1,900,000 2,000,000 1,900,000 Routine Capital 2,807,251 1,874,934 2,250,000 2,200,000 1,750,000 1,800,000 Transfer to RTA Development Fund 11,734,255 11,649,255 5,334,255 9,536,915 9,688,581 10,560,555

Total Expenditures 16,169,502 14,940,029 9,234,255 13,636,915 13,438,581 14,260,555

Ending Balance 1,522,919 2,114,010 2,371,815 2,031,294 2,090,214 2,162,845

ATTACHMENT E

RTA Capital Fund Balance Analysis

23



Revenue Transfer from General Fund 20,480,914 22,615,956 21,882,300 19,284,420 19,026,390 18,073,085 Investment Income 263 1,419 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 Other Revenue -445,748 0 0 0 0 0

Total Revenue 20,035,429 22,617,375 21,884,800 19,286,920 19,028,890 18,075,585 Reconciling Journal Entry 37,349 0 0 0 0 0

Total Resources 21,782,909 24,393,060 24,158,204 21,375,954 21,278,890 20,225,585

Expenditures Debt Service Principal 14,475,000 16,320,000 16,430,000 12,622,453 12,992,751 11,579,204 Interest 5,532,225 5,799,656 5,637,670 6,502,001 6,134,639 6,694,881 Other Expenditures 0 0 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500


Bond Retirement Fund Balance Analysis ATTACHMENT F

24


Beginning Balance 6,384,153 6,162,818 6,588,693 5,417,827 5,170,447 5,034,267 Revenue Investment Income 28,978 10,400 7,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Transfer from General Fund 900,000 1,500,000 500,000 2,400,000 2,300,000 2,450,000

Total Revenue 928,978 1,510,400 507,000 2,410,000 2,310,000 2,460,000 Total Resources 7,313,131 7,673,218 7,095,693 7,827,827 7,480,447 7,494,267

Expenditures Claims and Premium Outlay 1,150,313 1,084,525 1,677,866 2,657,380 2,446,180 2,459,180 Other Expenditures 0 0 0 0 0 0


ATTACHMENT G

Insurance Fund Balance Analysis

25


Beginning Balance 1,228,490 1,227,680 1,268,518 1,304,518 1,322,018 1,341,018 Revenue Investment Income 3,859 8,875 6,500 13,000 13,000 13,000 Transfer from General Fund 100,000 100,000 100,000 75,000 75,000 75,000

Total Revenue 103,859 108,875 106,500 88,000 88,000 88,000 Total Resources 1,332,349 1,336,555 1,375,018 1,392,518 1,410,018 1,429,018

Expenditures Benefit Payments 74,676 68,037 70,500 70,500 69,000 67,500 Other Expenditures 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total Expenditures 74,676 68,037 70,500 70,500 69,000 67,500Reconciling Journal Entry 29,993 0 0 0 0 0Ending Balance 1,227,680 1,268,518 1,304,518 1,322,018 1,341,018 1,361,518

Supplemental Pension Fund Balance AnalysisATTACHMENT H

26


Beginning Balance 406,607 296,216 257,133 262,193 284,826 339,886 Revenue Law Enforcement Revenue 0 9,040 0 0 0 0 Investment Income 60 60 60 60 60 60 Other Revenue 81,335 0 55,000 55,000 55,000 55,000

Total Revenue 81,395 9,100 55,060 55,060 55,060 55,060 Total Resources 488,002 305,316 312,193 317,253 339,886 394,946

Expenditures Capital & Related Items 191,786 48,183 50,000 32,427 0 0

Total Expenditures 191,786 48,183 50,000 32,427 0 0

Reconciling Journal Entry 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ending Balance 296,216 257,133 262,193 284,826 339,886 394,946

Law Enforcement Fund Balance Analysis ATTACHMENT I

27



Revenue Passenger Fares 49,085,267 48,419,211 44,346,663 46,872,000 48,500,000 50,550,000 Sales & Use Tax 197,118,146 205,843,321 218,360,330 217,100,000 209,500,000 214,700,000 Federal 58,199,720 75,819,587 61,250,000 59,345,000 62,790,000 71,285,500 State 6,103,878 3,659,487 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 Investment Income 269,609 381,709 159,060 168,560 158,560 167,560 Other Revenue 23,450,530 23,890,124 28,649,091 25,522,000 25,647,000 25,697,000 Debt Service Proceeds 0 30,000,000 0 30,000,000 0 25,000,000Total Revenue 334,227,151 388,013,439 354,149,802 380,392,218 347,980,218 388,784,718

Total Resources 423,007,420 450,026,426 426,294,657 436,829,684 399,601,743 397,290,667 Expenditures Personnel Services 181,305,658 186,608,791 188,562,760 196,507,281 199,192,587 203,180,634 Diesel Fuel 14,335,896 10,804,133 8,718,658 7,742,000 6,528,000 7,009,000 Natural Gas 957,626 1,119,725 1,165,167 2,245,000 2,269,000 2,501,000 Other Expenditures 52,905,344 54,329,027 57,942,936 64,189,423 63,628,817 64,204,648 Capital Outlay 91,482,683 102,900,240 91,400,000 95,400,000 100,350,000 103,400,000 Debt Service 20,007,225 22,119,656 22,067,670 19,124,454 19,127,390 18,274,085Total Expenditures 360,994,432 377,881,571 369,857,191 385,208,158 391,095,794 398,569,367

Available Ending Balance 62,012,987 72,144,855 56,437,466 51,621,525 8,505,949 -1,278,700

ATTACHMENT J

All Funds Balance Analysis

28

Budget Guide 29

2017 BUDGET GUIDE ORGANIZATION OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET PLAN

The purpose of this section is to describe the contents of the 2017 Operating and Capital Budgets (Adopted Budget

Plan) for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. This section is an aid for those who wish to analyze the

book in detail. The Tables of Contents in the beginning of the book and on the tabs in the beginning of each section

provide further direction to the reader.

TRANSMITTAL LETTER

The Transmittal Letter is the CEO/General Manager’s Executive Letter and an overview of the Authority’s operations

and finances for the upcoming fiscal year. It includes the Citizens’ Summary which explains the revenues,

expenditures, staffing, and service indicators. The Transmittal Letter also includes attachments of the Fund

Statements and Financial Objectives.

BUDGET GUIDE

In addition to providing an outline of the Adopted Budget Plan, the Budget Guide explains the Authority’s Financial

and Budgetary policies, including the rationale for their adoption and the manner in which they are implemented and

monitored. The Budget Guide also contains a description of the Budget Process, a Budget Calendar, a Profile of the

Service Area, and a Glossary of terms used in the Adopted Budget Plan.

FUND BUDGETS

The Fund Budgets section defines the Authority’s Fund Structure and the interrelationships between funds. Individual

fund statements reflect the trends in revenues, expenditures, ending balances, and transfers between funds over a

six‐year period. Historical, current, and prospective information is provided. An analysis of the Authority’s financial

condition is based on these trends.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

This section highlights improvements and efficiencies made in the Authority through the 2016‐2021 Strategic Plan

and TransitStat, GCRTA’s performance management program. GCRTA continues to improve itself as a model transit

authority through the balanced scorecard within these strategies. Each of the Departments have a direct or indirect

link to the Strategic Plan.

DEPARTMENT BUDGETS

The Department Budgets present the Adopted Budget Plan by the Operating Budget organizational units. These

sections describe the six divisions, their mission, functions, achievements for the past year, and priorities for the

current year. Individual department budgets, budget implementation narratives, scorecards, organizational charts,

and staffing level summaries are provided for each department.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The Capital Improvement Plan itemizes capital projects approved for 2017 and those planned for 2018 through 2021.

This section discusses funding sources, debt limits, capital improvement planning cycle, and the criteria used to

establish priorities.

Budget Guide 30

FINANCIAL POLICIES

INTRODUCTION

The Authority adopted a set of financial policies in 1989, relating to its overall finances and to particular funds. The

policies were amended in July 1998 to include four additional key indicators.

These policies were then amended again in September 2011 to provide a comprehensive framework for the

management of revenues and financial resources of the Authority. They provide guidelines for decision‐making by

the Board of Trustees and management on how the financial resources of the Authority shall be used to achieve the

Authority’s mission and provide public transportation services.

The new policy objectives are a better indicator of efficiency, effectiveness, and financial condition of the Authority,

which ensures the fiscal integrity of the Authority and adherence to laws and regulations. The Authority’s purpose,

which is to provide a public service, will only be accomplished so long as it remains a financially viable organization.

In this vein, a balance of using the funds to provide that service and maintaining a reserve for possible future shortfalls

must occur. The new policy objectives to measure and/or control expenses and revenues are:

Operating Ratio > 25% Operating Reserve > 1 month Growth in Cost per Service Hour < rate of inflation Debt Service Coverage > 1.5 Sales & Use Tax Revenue allocated annually to Capital Improvement 10 – 15% Capital Maintenance Outlay to Capital Expansion 75 – 90%

In addition to the elimination of two policy objectives, RTA established Reserve Funding for Rolling Stock

Replacement, hospitalization, absences, 27th pay period, and fuel costs. In December 2012, an Operating Reserve for

replacement of rolling stock was added. Starting in 2016, funds for the Reserve Fund are transferred at the end of the

year based on the available ending balance. If the available ending balance is above $5 million, before the Reserve

transfer, 10 percent of the available ending balance will be transferred into the Reserve. If the available ending

balance is less than $5 million, only 5 percent will be transferred. As such, the new policies authorize:

Operating Reserves

For accounting purposes, the Authority reports the results of its operations in a single enterprise fund, the General

Fund Statement. Separate funds are maintained on the books of the Authority in order to best account for its various

revenues that are designated for specific purposes. For budget purposes, a separate budget must be adopted

annually for each Fund (see Fund Budgets section). Therefore, the following financial and budgetary policies are

organized by Fund, except for those general policies that are applicable to the Authority as a whole.

Budget Guide 31

ALL FUNDS

POLICY STATEMENT: Current appropriations in each fund are limited to the sum of available cash, encumbered balances, and revenues estimated to be received in the current budget period.

RATIONALE: By law, the budget must be balanced and expenditures cannot exceed available resources. A balanced

budget occurs when total expenditures equal total revenues. The budget is also balanced in situations where total

expenditures are less than total revenues, called a surplus. A third type of a balanced budget is when total resources

(previous year balance plus current year revenues) are greater than total expenditures.

IMPLEMENTATION: The Board of Trustees (BOT) has adopted other policy goals that go beyond the statutory

requirement listed above and requires certain reserves in each fund. The specific requirements are discussed under

the appropriate fund policy statement. The following describes the implementation of this policy for the General

Fund.

In the General Fund, for 2017, estimated resources total $311.5 million: current revenues of $289.5 million plus an

estimated beginning balance of $22.0 million. Total estimated expenditures for 2017 equal $303.0 million and are

within the estimate of total resources available. The ending balance, $8.5 million, is under the one‐month reserve

recommended by the Trustees for the General Fund (see page 25). The Board policy goal is considerably more

restrictive and more determinate than the legal demand for balanced appropriations.

POLICY STATEMENT: The Authority’s interim funds shall be invested to achieve the maximum financial return consistent with prudent market and credit risks while conforming to applicable State and Federal laws and consistent with the cash flow requirements of the Authority, matching maturities and/or marketability at par, to meet outstanding obligations and financial commitments.

RATIONALE: With interim funds of more than $50 million, investment income is a material resource for the Authority

and makes funds management a priority. Investment decisions should attempt to increase yields without risking the

principal or the liquidity position of the organization. In addition, idle cash balances should be invested whenever

possible to maximize investment income.

IMPLEMENTATION: The Ohio Depository Act and the Authority’s cash management investment policy allow the

Authority to invest in the following types of financial instruments:

U.S. Government securities, maximum term of three years

Secured certificates of deposit, maximum term of one year

U.S. Government Agency securities, maximum term of three years

Repurchase agreements of U.S. Government and Agency securities, maximum term of thirty days

State Treasury Asset Reserve of Ohio (STAR Ohio), daily liquidity

Balanced Budget:

A) Total Revenues = Total Expenditures B) Total Revenues > Total Expenditures C) Total Resources > Total Expenditures

Figure 10

Budget Guide 32

Monthly reports summarizing investment transactions and earnings are provided to the Board of Trustees. The

Authority was able to achieve a favorable return on its 2016 investments and at the same time meet its outstanding

financial commitments with an investment yield of 0.46 percent.

POLICY STATEMENT: The Authority’s personnel, procurement, and other policies are designed and administered to obtain the maximum value for the funds provided by its constituents.

RATIONALE: As a public agency, the Authority delivers the services for which its taxpayers and users provide

resources. The incentive is not to generate an excessive surplus of funds, but rather, to provide the most extensive

and cost‐effective level and mix of services possible. When services and operations are well managed and costs are

contained, the Authority can provide greater services.

IMPLEMENTATION: In the General Fund, the growth in the cost of providing services (measured by cost per hour

of service) must remain at or below the rate of inflation. This policy goal allows the Authority to maximize the use of

its resources and provide the most direct service possible.

The operating expenditures budgeted in 2017 General Fund, which exclude transfers to other funds, are $267.5

million, which represents a decrease of 157,991 under the 2016 budget. The largest Operating Budget appropriation,

$196.5 million, is for Personnel Services, which includes salaries, overtime, and fringe benefits, and accounts for 73.5

percent of the total operating appropriation. The 2017 appropriation for personnel costs is 2.0 percent higher than

the 2016 budget. This increase is due to wage increases for ATU and FOP personnel. The Operating Expenditures

include labor and fringe benefits for personnel; diesel fuel and natural gas fuel. Inventory, other utilities, cost of

materials and services, and liability costs are included in the other expenditures.

In the Capital Improvement Fund, economies are sought that minimize the costs of capital projects. Construction

management activities ensure the timely completion of these projects at the lowest cost. Cost savings also are

possible by planning for the purchase of similar types of equipment in larger quantities. Additionally, capital

investment is encouraged where operating cost savings and operational efficiencies result.

GENERAL FUND

POLICY STATEMENT: Program demands require that an adequate resource stream be maintained. The Authority must make the hard decisions required to assure a continued flow of resources.

RATIONALE: It is the policy of this Authority to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure full and continued

funding for the services, programs, and facilities, which the Authority is required or elects to provide. The Authority

should actively pursue whatever legitimate revenues it can locate to support the services its constituents demand.

IMPLEMENTATION: Sales & Use Tax is the largest revenue stream for the Authority. In 2009, the State added

Medicaid Managed Health Care to the Sales & Use Tax base. Due to Federal requirements of taxing a subset of

Managed Health Care Providers, Medicaid Managed Health Care (MMHC) providers will be removed from the tax base

effective July 1, 2017. Under this change, if not mitigated, the State of Ohio will realize a loss of approximately $500

million annually, Ohio’s 88 counties will lose over $200 million annually, and the 8 transit agencies receiving Sales &

Use Tax revenue will lose approximately $38 million, of which, RTA will lose approximately $18 million annually.

The Sales & Use Tax revenue lags by 3 months. If the State of Ohio does not create a revenue‐neutral fix and Medicaid

Managed Health Care is removed from the tax base on July 1, 2017, the effect of this will be experienced starting

Budget Guide 33

October 2017. The Authority is cautiously awaiting the State’s decision and budgeted a $4.5 million loss in Sales &

Use Tax revenue for 2017, which is annualized in 2018.

Passenger Fares are the second largest source of revenue. Ridership has slowly been decreasing over the past year.

Weather was a major factor in the first quarters of 2014 and 2015 with record low temperatures and snowfall. Monthly

collections have been very inconsistent over the past several as ridership has declined. The 2017 Budget includes the

annualization of the $0.25 fare increase implemented in August 2016 and an additional $0.25 fare increase for

Paratransit riders, effective August 2017.

Reimbursed Expenditures, the third largest revenue stream for the Authority, consists of reimbursements for

Preventive Maintenance, Fuel Tax, and grant‐funded labor and material costs. The goal is to keep reimbursed

expenditures under $25 million, with a stretch goal of $20 million, enabling more funds to be available for capital

projects and maintaining a state of good repair on all assets.

Because of the inconsistency in the Passenger Fare revenue collections and the awaited decision on the Sales & Use

Tax base, and the fact that Northeast Ohio has not fully recovered from the recessions in 2001 and 2009, the 2017

through 2019 projections for the top three revenue streams are very conservative.

POLICY STATEMENT: An operating reserve in an amount equal to at least one month’s operating expenses shall be budgeted each year to cover unforeseen or extraordinary fluctuations in revenues or expenses.

RATIONALE: Adequate reserves must be maintained to avoid disruptions in service due to temporary shortages in

operating funds or fluctuations in revenue streams or costs.

IMPLEMENTATION: This policy was met in 2010, the first time since 1990, at 1.2 months, and continued to be met

through 2014. The beginning balance for 2015 was $11 million less than 2014 with an increase of $7 million in revenues

and $6 million in expenses. The year ended with a reserve of 0.8 months. The control in expenditures over the past

year has projected this financial policy to be achieved again in 2016. This policy goal is not expected to be reached for

2017 through 2019, at 0.4 months, ‐0.5 months, and ‐1.3 months, respectively, as the Medicaid Managed Health Care

will be removed from the Sales & Use Tax revenue stream beginning July 1, 2017, which will be realized in October

2017 and annualized in 2018. Additional sources of revenues must be identified and operating expenses must be held

under tight control to reach the 1.0 month operating reserve for 2017 and the outlying years.

POLICY STATEMENT: Growth in the cost of delivering a unit of service (cost per service hour) shall be kept at or below the rate of inflation.

RATIONALE: As a means of measuring cost containment, direct costs should not be permitted to increase faster

than overall price levels.

IMPLEMENTATION: Service hours for 2017 are budgeted to decrease by 1.6 percent as a 3 percent service reduction

is annualized in 2017 for bus and rail. For 2018 and 2019, service hours are budgeted at the same service level as 2017.

This policy goal is expected to be met in 2017, at 0.1 percent. For 2017, the growth per year is projected at 12.3 percent

and the policy goal is not expected to be met, as inflation is expected to remain around 2.5 percent per year for the

next decade. The growth per year for 2018 projected at ‐4.0 percent, which will meet the policy goal. For 2019, the

growth is projected at 8.0 percent, which will not meet the policy goal.

Budget Guide 34

POLICY STATEMENT: The Operating Ratio (Operating Revenues divided by Operating Expenses) shall not be allowed to go below 25 percent with a long-range objective of having Operating Revenues cover an increasing portion of Operating Expenses.

RATIONALE: A higher Operating Ratio indicates that the Authority is becoming more self‐supporting and less reliant

on other sources of income. Additionally, a lower Operating Ratio indicates that customers are paying a lower portion

of the operating cost of providing the service.

IMPLEMENTATION: Operating Revenues include passenger fares, advertising, concessions, and investment

income. Operating Expenses include all expenditures of the General Fund less reimbursed labor and transfers to other

funds, which are charged to and reimbursed by the Capital Program.

In 2014 and 2015, operating expenses have increased at a greater rate than operating revenues. For 2016, operating

revenues are projected to decrease by 8.3 percent and operating expenses are projected to increase slightly, just

under 0.2 percent. The Operating Ratio for 2016 is expected to fall to 18.2 percent, from 19.9 percent in 2015. The

Operating Ratio for 2017 is expected to remain at 18.2 percent, but still below the goal of 25 percent. A $0.25 fare

increase was implemented in the third quarter of 2016 and annualized in 2017. For 2017, operating revenues are

projected to increase by 5.7 percent. Operating expenses are budgeted to increase by 6.1 percent.

In 2018 and 2019, with the annualization of the budgeted fare increase, Operating Revenues are planned to increase

by 3.6 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively. Operating Expenses are budgeted to increase by 0.6 percent and 2.0

percent, respectively. The Operating Ratios for 2018 and 2019 are planned at 18.7 percent and 19.1 percent,

respectively. These ratios are above the budgeted ratio for 2017 but still less than the policy of 25 percent.

POLICY STATEMENT: Debt service coverage (total operating revenue minus operating expenditures divided by debt service requirements) shall be kept to a minimum of 1.5.

RATIONALE: The Authority should comfortably support Debt service payments. The excess from general

obligations should be used as the measure to not jeopardize the financial condition of the Authority.

IMPLEMENTATION: The debt service coverage measure has traditionally been met and the minimum significantly

exceeded since the Authority has used debt sparingly. The goal of the debt service coverage is to be above 1.5. After

declining to a low of 1.14 at the end of FY 2009, the Debt Service Coverage ratio improved 2010 through 2014 as

revenue from the Sales & Use Tax recovered. This ratio again was maintained in 2015 at a rate of 1.8. The estimate for

2016 is projected at 2.1. The debt coverage is projected fall to 1.48 in 2017 as another debt issuance of $30 million is

expected and the Sales & Use Tax is expected to fall by $4.5 million in the Fourth Quarter due to the Medicaid

Managed Health Care being removed from the tax base. The debt service coverage is expected to further decline in

2018 and 2019, at 0.38 and ‐0.66, respectively, as projected total resources fall within those years.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS

POLICY STATEMENT: An amount between 10 percent and 15 percent of Sales & Use Tax revenues shall be allocated to the Capital Improvement Fund on an annual basis. This allocation shall be used to support budgeted projects in the Capital Improvement Fund or support debt service payments in the Bond Retirement Fund.

RATIONALE: Capital assets such as facilities, equipment, and vehicles, are essential to the provision of

transportation services. Although expensive to sustain, a regular capital investment program lowers operating and

capital costs over the long term. The Federal Government funds a substantial portion of capital projects, but the

Budget Guide 35

Authority must have adequate local matching funds on hand in order to qualify for FTA grants. State and Federal

assistance has shrunk in recent years, leaving the Authority to absorb an increasing share of capital expenditures

through 100 percent local funds.

IMPLEMENTATION: The Authority has combined debt financing and direct allocations of Sales & Use Tax receipts

to fulfill its financial commitment to the capital program. In 1995, the definition of contribution to capital was officially

broadened from the Transfer to the RTA Capital Fund to also include the Transfer to the Bond Retirement Fund. The

Authority provided a contribution to capital equivalent to the minimum of 10 percent in 1998 through 2002, but

growth in Authority‐wide capital needs progressively increased this ratio between 2003 and 2011, from 11.4 percent

to 18.4 percent.

In 2015, the Sales Tax Contribution to Capital increased slightly to 18.5 percent. The contribution is expected to

decrease to 14.4 percent in 2016, within the goal. It is expected to remain just at the goal of 15 percent for 2017 and

just over 15 percent for 2018 and 2019, depending upon how future debt service issuances are structured.

POLICY STATEMENT: Capital Improvement Funds shall be used to account for the construction and acquisition of major capital facilities and equipment.

RATIONALE: The separation of funds used for day‐to‐day operations from those employed for capital

improvements facilitates the planning process and the management of resources.

IMPLEMENTATION: Capital investments are defined as those exceeding $5,000, where the useful life of the asset

exceeds one year. The Capital Improvement Fund includes the RTA Capital Fund and the RTA Development Fund.

The Capital Improvement Fund is supported by the Federal and State grants as well as local sources.

POLICY STATEMENT: The percent of capital maintenance to capital expansion outlay will be a minimum of 75 percent and a maximum of 90 percent.

RATIONALE: Transit remains a capital‐intensive business and continued quality service relies solidly on maintenance

of infrastructure and equipment. Investments must anticipate future service requirements and capacity. Ridership is

increased only through a clean, dependable, and well‐operated system.

IMPLEMENTATION: Recognizing that the capital program requires a critical balance between maintenance of

existing assets and expansion efforts, this policy objective has been used in the past to develop the annual capital

budget. Between 2010 and 2015, the capital maintenance to expansion ratio has ranged from a low of 84.1 percent

and a high of 98.9 percent as the focus of the Authority’s capital program has been focused on achieving a State of

Good Repair through the maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement or upgrade of existing capital assets rather

than on expansion activities. This measure is expected to remain above 95 percent in 2016 and remain above the 90

percent maximum goal for 2017 through 2019, ranging from 94.1 percent in 2017, to 92.5 percent in 2018 and 2019,

as the focus of the Authority’s capital programs continue to focus on state of good repair (SGR) projects throughout

the Authority.

POLICY STATEMENT: The Authority will strive to take advantage of all available State and Federal grants and other financing programs for capital improvements, including but not limited to, State of Ohio public transportation grants and Federal Highway Administration programs, as well as the programs of the Federal Transit Administration.

Budget Guide 36

RATIONALE: Various ‘formula’ grants are usually allocated to systems based on service or demographic indicators.

Discretionary grants are competitive and require the maintenance of positive relationships, solid planning, and well‐

conceived projects. The Authority strives to maximize grant funding in order to best leverage local funds to maintain

a State of Good Repair (SGR) in its capital assets. Furthermore, as more dollars are needed to support an aggressive

Long‐Range plan, the Authority will explore and secure other creative and non‐traditional revenue sources to meet

the needs of its capital program.

IMPLEMENTATION: The limited availability of funding at the Federal, State, and Local levels meant the Authority

can only focus on the most essential and realistic capital projects during the 2017‐2021 CIP development process and

continue its focus on SGR projects. The Authority will continue to aggressively pursue and explore any and all non‐

traditional funding opportunities under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and will continue to

focus on improving our internal capability to plan, finance, and implement its Capital Improvement Plan.

SUPPLEMENTAL PENSION FUND

POLICY STATEMENT: Every two years, an evaluation, including appropriate actuarial studies, shall be made of the Supplemental Pension Fund to determine the amounts required to meet expected obligations of the Fund. Any additional funds determined to be needed will be allocated during the annual budgeting process of the Authority.

RATIONALE: A periodic evaluation of the pension amount ensures that the Authority has adequate funds to meet

expected obligations.

IMPLEMENTATION: The Supplemental Pension Fund contains assets held in trust for the payment of pension

benefits to certain retired employees of the Authority. Provisions of the plan are delineated in the agreement between

RTA and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU). Because of low levels of investment income earned over the last few

years and increasing expenditures, the fund has required transfers from the General Fund to keep the recommended

balance. The transfers from 2014 through 2016 were held at $100,000 per year. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, $75,000

transfers will be needed each year to ensure that the Fund remains at the recommended level to meet all obligations.

INSURANCE FUND

POLICY STATEMENT: The Authority is insured through both self-insurance and purchased insurance. Insurance for property and equipment losses as well as liability is to be purchased on the open Insurance market. The Risk Manager determines the basis for the Insurance Fund structure and coverage levels.

RATIONALE: The Authority desires to save funds by implementing the most appropriate balance of insurance to

solve claims. Sufficient resources have been set aside to provide security against normal business risk, for major

property claims, and to purchase specified insurance for these purposes.

IMPLEMENTATION: The General and Insurance Funds provide for the payment of the insurance purchased on the

open market. Since the hiring of a Risk Manager in 1998, the Insurance Fund was restructured to include a mix of self‐

and purchased‐insurance. This was a major change from the Authority’s previous self‐insurance position. In 2014 and

2015, $0.9 million and $1.5 million was transferred, respectively, from the General Fund for the payment of ordinary

and routine losses in the form of personal injury and property damage claims. For 2016, a transfer of $500,000 is

projected to cover claims outlay and insurance premiums for catastrophic or extraordinary losses. For 2017, 2018, and

2019, about $2.4 million is budgeted each year for claims outlay and insurance premiums for catastrophic and

extraordinary losses.

Budget Guide 37

POLICY STATEMENT: The minimum balance to be maintained in the Insurance Fund shall be determined by the Risk Manager on an annual basis taking into consideration the balance between self-insurance and purchased-insurance requirements. Upon attaining the required minimum balance, additional funds will be allotted to the Insurance Fund during the annual budgeting process based on the results of periodic actuarial studies of the Fund to assess its sufficiency.

RATIONALE: The intent is to ensure that reserves and insurance levels are sufficient to cover extraordinary or

catastrophic losses. The periodic evaluations will determine the sufficiency of the Fund and the cost‐effectiveness of

maintaining a self‐insurance program versus obtaining coverage externally or a combination of the two.

IMPLEMENTATION: Ordinary and routine losses are paid through the Risk Management Department’s General

Fund Budget, whereas claims and insurance premiums for catastrophic and extraordinary losses are budgeted in the

Insurance Fund. Since 2004, the Risk Manager requires a minimum $5 million fund balance. The transfer to the

Insurance Fund in 2016 was dropped to $0.5 million to reduce the ending balance back toward $5 million. For 2017,

the transfer is budgeted at $2.4 million and is planned at $2.3 million for 2018 and $2.5 million for 2019 in order to

maintain the minimum balance of $5.0 million.

BOND RETIREMENT FUND

POLICY STATEMENT: Principal and interest payments on outstanding bonds will be accounted for in the Bond Retirement Fund. Debt issuances shall comply with pertinent State and Federal laws, finance only long-term capital assets, and supported by adequate debt servicing capacity.

RATIONALE: It is the intent of the Authority to issue debt in a manner that adheres to State and Federal laws and

prudent financial management principles.

IMPLEMENTATION: Historically, the Authority has used debt capacity sparingly due to the benefits of Federal and

State grant funding. Reductions in these sources of capital support over the years in combination with an aggressive

long‐range Capital Improvement Program (CIP), has resulted in more frequent use of debt sales as a revenue source

for the Authority’s capital needs. The outstanding debt for the Authority totaled $120.0 million in general obligation

(GO) and revenue (RB) bonds at the end of 2016, which will require principal and interest payments of $16.9 million in

2017. For 2017, a $30 million debt issuance is budgeted. Principal and interest payments are expected to continue to

increase in future years due to the on‐going needs of the Capital Improvement Plan and additional anticipated debt

service requirements.

DEBT FINANCING

Ohio law permits the Authority to issue both voted and unvoted debt and to levy ad valorem property taxes. Current

obligations have not required the use of property taxes for debt service. Debt issuances are subject to three limitations

as specified in the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Constitution:

1. RESTRICTION: Total debt supported by voted and/or unvoted property taxes may not exceed 5 percent of the total assessed valuation of the property within the Authority’s territory (Cuyahoga County).

IMPACT: The provision is not currently applicable since debt obligations have not required the use of ad valorem property taxes for debt service payments. Further, the 1.38 mill limitation (based on the county’s assessed valuation of $27.6 billion) is not overly restrictive in view of the Authority’s debt requirements.

Budget Guide 38

2. RESTRICTION: Annual principal and interest payments on all unvoted general obligation (GO) bonds may not exceed one‐tenth of one percent of the total assessed valuation.

IMPACT: The 2008‐2010 recession has negatively affected the property valuation for Cuyahoga County. A triennial adjustment was made on the total assessed valuation leading to a decline from $31.7 billion in 2008 to $29.8 billion in 2010 to $27.73 billion at the end of 2014. Based on the 2017 valuation, the annual debt service capacity of one‐tenth of one percent would be $27.62 million and apply to all debt issued by the Authority.

3. RESTRICTION: The total amount of annual debt service on unvoted general obligation (GO) bonds issued

by overlapping subdivisions is limited to ten mills of assessed valuation in each political subdivision. Overlapping subdivisions include Cuyahoga County and various municipalities, school districts, and townships within the taxing district.

IMPACT: The ten‐mill limit provision pertains to all unvoted debt regardless of the source of payment and historically has been the most restrictive to the Authority. At the beginning of 2017, the overwhelming majority of political subdivisions in Cuyahoga County have reached the 10‐mil limit, leaving 0.00 mills for additional debt issuances. The fact that the 10‐mil limit has been exceeded is another factor to be considered as the Authority is budgeted to issue additional debt in FY 2017, resulting in revenue bonds being issued instead of general obligation bonds. This will also affect future debt issuances in the same manner. The Authority currently holds a “AAA: rating with S & P and an “Aa1” rating with Moody’s.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT PROCESS

INTRODUCTION

As the Authority’s finances become tighter, increased emphasis has been placed on the budget management process.

The following procedures were instituted to strengthen this process:

The Board of Trustees (BOT) developed a set of financial policies, starting on page 38, to guide the development of the budget plan and articulate the Authority’s operating guidelines.

The Authority’s performance is measured against the standards established by the BOT.

A formal budget document is produced, providing clear, timely, and accurate budget information to officials and the public.

The expenditures are tracked against appropriations and available resources.

Performance indicators are used to assess the containment of costs and the effectiveness of service delivery.

The Citizen’s Advisory Board (CAB) meets monthly to provide the pulse of the community in matters of fare changes, Long Range Plan updates, capital projects, and service changes.

THE BUDGET CYCLE

For the Authority, the fiscal and calendar year coincide. The budget process for the forthcoming fiscal year begins in

June with the development of the Tax Budget for the following year. Although not necessary, the Authority prepares

a Tax Budget as a valuable tool for estimating budget year resources and performing appropriations planning.

Around the same time, a mid‐year review of spending patterns and budget variances is conducted. The mid‐year

review and the following year’s Tax Budget are essential components of the base level appropriations assumed for

the succeeding budget cycle. The development of this ‘base’ budget begins the annual budget process, which

proceeds as follows:

A budget basis (or starting point) is selected, usually based on the mid‐year estimate or the original appropriation level.

Budget Guide 39

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) staff adjusts the budget basis for any nonrecurring costs, contracts, or binding commitments, or inflation. The product is called the Base Budget.

After receiving the Base Budget, Departments submit their requests for adjustments.

Negotiations between OMB and the Departments refine the Base Budget.

When completed, the Base Budget includes commitments, recurring costs, and any approved new projects and initiatives.

The finalized CEO/General Manager’s Recommended Budget: o Is the sum of the refined Base Budgets and Adjustments o Is limited to estimated available resources o Satisfies the Authority’s financial policies to the best extent possible o Supports the Authority’s mission and strategic direction as embodied in the Board Policy Goals and

outlined in the Strategic Planning Process

The CEO/General Manager’s Recommended Budget is presented to the Executive Management Team (EMT) in October

The CEO/General Manager’s Recommended Budget is presented to the Board of Trustees (BOT) in November and December and is made available to the public.

At least one budget hearing in November and/or December is scheduled for the BOT and the general public, which includes public discussion of the budget.

The review process culminates in the formal adoption of a budget resolution at the December Board Meeting. It is the Trustees’ practice to finalize appropriations before the new fiscal year begins.

BUDGET MONITORING AND CONTROL

The Office of Management and Budget monitors revenues and expenses monthly, as well as projects year‐end

estimates for the Authority’s top two revenues (Passenger Fares and Sales and Use Tax) and the top 3 expenditures

(Personnel, Fringe Benefits, and Fuel/Utilities). Quarterly financial reports allow the CEO/General Manager

Secretary—Treasurer and the Board of Trustees (BOT) to monitor actual performance throughout the year. This

report is used to determine if adjustments are needed to realign the budget. Interdepartmental transfers are the main

method to adjust the Operating Budget. The CEO/General Manager Secretary‐Treasurer has the authority to transfer

appropriations within and between departments, which are reported monthly to the Board of Trustees (BOT). In rare

occasions, an increase to the overall budget appropriation may be needed. Any increase to the Authority’s total

budget requires BOT approval.

The CEO/General Manager Secretary‐Treasurer also has the authority to upgrade or reclassify staff positions.

Positions may be reallocated between departments and divisions, providing the overall staffing level remain at the

level approved by the BOT for the budgeted year. This allows the CEO/General Manager Secretary‐Treasurer

flexibility in making staff decisions. If an increase in budgeted positions is needed during the year, approval by the

BOT would be needed.

Budget Guide 40

Figure 11

Budget Guide 41

MANAGEMENT POLICIES

The Authority continues to operate under the Quality Management System (QMS) through the TransitStat program.

The Board of Trustees (BOT), Executive Management Team (EMT) and key stakeholders in RTA created a new

strategic plan for short‐term and long‐term of the RTA. This includes a new Mission Statement and ten Priority Policy

Initiatives essential for growth and progress in RTA. These are reviewed annually and modified if necessary. Budget

decisions are made with the overall strategic planning process in mind. These policies are discussed in further detail

in the Performance Management Section.

MISSION:

To provide safe, reliable, clean, and courteous public transportation

VITAL FEW OBJECTIVES (VFOS)

Increase Revenue

Reduce Expenses

Expand Advocacy

Enhance Customer Experience

Increase Service Efficiency

Achieve State of Good Repair

Advance & Improve Technology

Achieve a Safety Culture

Improve Employee Development

CHANGE MANAGEMENT INTIATIVES & ACTION PLANS

Implement Fare Changes & Define Medicaid Reimbursement Strategy

Improve Specification Writing and Funds Owed processes

Engage newly elected leaders and reintroduce the RTA’s Speaker’s Bureau

Maximize ridership growth and experience

Implement Predictive Maintenance Program with Triskett Garage and Electronic Repair with a 3‐

Year Budget Program

Implement Priorities for State of Good Repair (SOGR)

Continue implementing IT Strategic Priorities

Improve Safety for Customer and Employees using DriveCam and implementing Safety Drills

Improve Most Crucial Communication Issues

Establish Leadership & Management Goals for Executive Management Team

Continue Implementing Succession Plan and Deploying Annual Employee Satisfaction &

Engagement Survey

Budget Guide 42

VALUES:

Safety: The safety of our passengers, employees, and the general public is our top priority.

Ethics & Integrity: We are dedicated to high ethical standards, including uncompromising honesty and integrity in our daily activities.

Service Excellence: We will provide safe, clean, reliable, on‐time, courteous service that our customers will view as outstanding.

Fiscal Responsibility: We are committed to manage every taxpayer and customer‐generated dollar as if it were coming from our own pocket.

Teamwork: We believe in teamwork and will foster a spirit of cooperative effort within RTA and with our partners.

Responsibility & Accountability: Every individual is accountable. Meeting our individual responsibilities will ensure that collectively RTA is a high‐performing organization. We will meet all regulations and commitments and continually strive to improve.

Respect: We will treat all members of the RTA family, customers, and the general public with dignity and respect.

Budget Guide 43

TRANSIT SERVICE PROFILE

GCRTA HISTORY

1800

1850

1900

1925

1950

1975

2000

2016

10-year Strategic Plan created; CSU Line Opens; Cleveland hosts Gay Games; Cleveland chosen for 2016 RNC

GCRTA receives Silver Award for Partnership for Excellence (TPE); Joe Calabrese, CEO/GM named Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine; CNG buses begin service

10-year Strategic Plan updated; Cleveland Monsters win Championship; Cleveland Cavaliers (CAVS) win Championship & Parade; Cleveland hosts 2016 Republican National Convention; Cleveland Indians go to World Series

Heavy Rail 50th Anniversary; Bus-Only Lanes open in downtown

New Triolley Service begins

GCRTA named "Best in North America" by American Public Transit Association (APTA)

HealthLine begins between downtown, Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospital

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center opened; GCRTA participates in "Safe Place"

Gold Award received for Security

New bus loop service downtown; First Park-N-Ride Facility in Strongsville; Tower City Transit Center opened

ARTS-in-Transit program beins

Euclid Park-N-Ride Transit Center opened; Gateway walkway opened connecting Tower City with Gund Arena and Jacobs Field

Westlake Park-N-Ride opened; Waterfront Line opened; Community Circulators began

25th Anniversary; Bike Rack pilot program began

New MCI Coaches start service; New Integrated Communications Center (ICC) opened

Heavy Rail extended to Hopkins Airport - the first rapid service to major airport

CTS and Shaker Lines transferred to Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

GCRTA began first Police force

GCRTA integrated operations from Euclid and Garfiled Heights

New complexes opened: Training Center, Rail Complex, Central Bus Maintenance

Rail District Headquarters and Paratransit Facility opened

Bus Service began with downtown loop

Cleveland Rapid Transit system ran to Terminal Tower

Cleveland Transit System (CTS) begain with 3-man transit commission

CTS brok ground for Heavy Rail behind Windermere Carbarn

Heavy Rail service begain - Windermere to Terminal Tower to Triskett Station

Suburban Steamlines provide uncoordinated transportation

1st Commercial Electric Railway in US

Cleveland Electric Railway Co. began

Cleveland Railway began - Murray Chain-driven "Opera" bus

Cleveland Rapid Transit System began - Shaker Heights to Downtown

First Rail Line: Euclid Avenue - Public Square to Wade Park

Omnibus Service: horse-drawn carriage for large groups

Stagecoach ran between Cleveland and Painesville

First Street Railway: horse-drawn streetcar downtown to E. 55th

Figure 12

Budget Guide 44

ECONOMIC PROFILE

(U.S. Census Bureau)

The Service Profile depicts the economic and service activity as it impacts the organization on operational and

financial levels. The provided information highlights trends regarding items that have direct effect on how RTA

develops, supports, and implements services.

percent Change prior

year

Population 2015 Census (estimate) percent Change from 2010 Census Projected 2020 Population Land Area (square miles) (2015) percent Female (2015) Persons per Square Mile (2015)

1,255,921 2 percent

1,209,550

458.3 52.7 percent

2,747

‐0.4 percent 0

0 0 0 0

percent White (2015) percent Black (2015) percent Hispanic/Latino (2015) percent Asian (2015) percent American Indian/Alaskan Native (2015)

65.7 percent 31.2 percent 5.3 percent 2.8 percent 0.3 percent

‐0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.0

Housing Persons per household, 2015 # Housing Units (2014) Home Ownership rate (2009‐2013) Median value of owner‐occupied housing units (2009‐2013)

2.45 619,303

60.9 percent

$125,700

‐0.01 percent ‐560

‐0.7 percent

‐$9,200

Median Household Income (2015) percent Under Poverty Level (2015) Cost of Living Index 2013 (U.S. Avg.: 100)

$44,190 14.5 percent

95.9

‐$13 0 percent

‐7.6

Largest Cities (2015) (# of Residents)

City of Cleveland Parma Lakewood Euclid Cleveland Heights Strongsville Westlake North Olmsted North Royalton Garfield Heights

388,072 79,937 50,656 47,676 44,962 44,668 32,428 32,004 30,311 28,097

‐1,788 ‐119 ‐297 ‐242 ‐243 ‐9 ‐14 ‐143 ‐30 ‐147

Land Use/Land Cover (2014)

Urban (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Transportation, etc.) Cropland Pasture Forest Open Water Wetlands Bare/Mines

66.85 percent 0.99 percent 0.03 percent

30.95 percent 0.65 percent 0.37 percent 0.17 percent

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Budget Guide 45

State Parks, Forests, Nature Preserves, and Wildlife Areas

Areas, Facilities Acreage

1 13.5

0 0

Education Public Schools Non‐Public Schools 4‐Year Public Universities 2‐Year Public Colleges Private Universities & Colleges Public Libraries Branch Libraries

366 131 1 3 5 9 63

0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Means of Transportation to Work

Drive Alone Carpool Public Transportation Walk Other Work from Home

458,685 38,940 29,205 17,179 6,872 21,760

‐10,153 ‐5,006

149 17,099

107 19,961

Travel time to Work (16 yrs old and older) (2014)

Less than 15 minutes 15 to 29 minutes 30 to 44 minutes 45 to 59 minutes 60 minutes or more

23.9 percent 42.7 percent 23.3 percent 5.6 percent 4.5 percent

0.7 0.6 ‐0.6 0.2 0.0

Major Employers Type of Employment (Non‐Government)

Cleveland Clinic University Hospital Health System Progressive Corp. MetroHealth KeyCorp Swagelok Giant Eagle, Inc. Sherwin Williams Lincoln Electric Nestle USA American Greetings

Health Care Health Care Insurance

Health Care Finance

Manufacturer Grocer

Manufacturer Manufacturer Manufacturer Manufacturer

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce (United States Census Bureau) Town & County Quick Facts U.S. Census Bureau, 2011‐2015 American Community Survey Ohio Department of Development ‐‐Office of Policy, Research & Strategic Planning Ohio County Profiles Ohio Department of Job and Family Services‐‐ 2016 Cuyahoga County Profile Statistical and Demographic Data

Budget Guide 46

TRENDS OF NORTH EAST OHIO COMPARED TO THE STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGES

The Population in Cleveland has been steadily decreasing since the 1980s and Cuyahoga County has been decreasing since 2000. The economic crisis in 2008 and 2009 hit Cuyahoga County, City of Cleveland, and North East Ohio hard. The unemployment rate was already higher than the national average at this point in time. Unemployment remains high in the City of Cleveland. Unemployment in Ohio and Cuyahoga County are also higher than the national average.

Source: United States Census Bureau. U.S

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Budget Guide 47

NATIONAL TRANSIT TRENDS

A total of 866 Agencies are included in the National Transit Database (NTD) for 2015. The National Transit Database

was established by Congress to be the Nation’s primary source of information and statistics on the transit system of

the United States. Recipients of grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are required by statute to

submit data to the NTD. The NTD is used to help meet the needs of individual public transportation systems, the US

Government, State, and Local governments, and the public for information on which to base public transportation

service planning. (www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/)

The Unlinked Passenger Trips are part of service consumed; the goal of transit service is to transport passengers from

one place to another. Operating cost per passenger unit is slightly different than passenger miles traveled. Vanpool

(VP) service, for example, may carry fewer people, but it carries them a consistently longer distance per trip. The

opposite is true of trolleybuses, which carry many people in dense urban settings, but not very far. From this

perspective Demand Response is the most expensive mode followed by Demand Taxi and Van Pool.

Cost per Unlinked Passenger Trip (by mode):

Total Unlinked Passenger Trips (by year):

Source: National Transit Summaries and Trends for the 2015 National Transit Database Report Year

Figure 16

Figure 17

Budget Guide 48

OHIO TRANSIT TRENDS

32 Agencies reported data in the National Transit Database in 2015

The Nine Largest Agencies in Ohio – data listed below

Data Source: 2015 National Transit Database

Figure 18

Budget Guide 49

GLOSSARY

Accrual Accounting – A method of financial accounting where revenues are recorded when earned, however, the

revenue does not have to be received in the same reporting period. Similarly, expenditures are recorded as soon as

the goods or services are received; the payment of the expenditure does not have to be made in the same reporting

period.

Ad Valorem Tax – A tax based on the value (or assessed value) of property.

Advocacy – Public support for a cause or policy, specifically for public transportation.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) – The largest transit union in North America.

American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG) – A consortium of mid‐sized bus agencies in North America, est. in 2011

to benchmark performance and share best practices.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – An economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th U.S.

Congress in February 2009 in response to the Great Recession. The primary objective for ARRA was to save and create

jobs; the secondary objectives were to provide temporary relief programs for those impacted by the recession and

invest in infrastructure, education, health, and renewable energy.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – of 1990, requires that public entities, which operate non‐commuter fixed

route transportation services, also provide complementary Paratransit service for individuals unable to use the fixed

route system.

Appropriation – A financial authorization granted by the Board of Trustees to cover expenditures and incur

obligations.

Arbitrage – Investment earnings representing the difference between interest paid on bonds and the interest earned

on the investments made utilizing bond proceeds.

Assessed Valuation – The value of property against which an ad valorem tax is levied. Valuations are conducted by

the County Auditor and reflect a percentage of the true or market value of the property.

Asset Maintenance – This category of capital projects refers to projects where 100 percent of the funding is provided

by local sources (versus grant funded sources) and represents expenses incurred to maintain or improve the

Authority’s assets.

Asset Management – A systematic approach to procuring, operating, maintaining, upgrading or replacing transit

assets in a manner that reduces risk and costs while improving operational performance.

Average Cost per [Paratransit] Trip – Average cost to provide Paratransit Services to the ADA community using RTA

vehicles and operators or contracted vehicles and operators.

Balanced Budget – The Authority considers the budget balanced when total expenditures equal total revenues. The

budget is also balanced in situations where total expenditures are less than total revenues, which is called a surplus.

There are also few instances where the Authority might plan to spend fund balances from previous years on one‐time

or non‐routine expenditures, provided the funding from previous years is available. The Authority, however, must

have a plan in place to not build ongoing expenditures into this type of funding.

Balanced Scorecard – Tool to measure progress and metrics in performance management.

Base Budget – The total appropriation for maintaining the Authority’s daily operations, authorized by the Board of

Trustees.

Budget Guide 50

Bond – The written evidence of the debt issued by the Authority. It bears a stated rate of interest and maturity date

on which a fixed sum of money plus interest is payable to the holder.

Bond Counsel – A lawyer or law firm, which delivers an opinion regarding the legality of a debt issuance or other

matters.

Budget Basis – The starting point for budget deliberations, usually the current budget year appropriation, or the

Midyear Review estimate of expenses.

Budget Deficit – Usually, this is a projection of expenditures exceeding appropriations. It is normally determined

during a quarterly review. The budget is controlled so that expenditures plus encumbrances should not exceed

appropriations.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – A broad term given to transit systems that use buses to provide a service that is of a higher

quality than an ordinary bus line. See HealthLine.

CAFR – Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, contains audited financial statements, financial notes, and related

materials.

Capital Expenditures – Funds in the Capital Improvement Program are used to account for the acquisition,

construction, replacement, repair and renovation of capital facilities, assets, and equipment. Under Routine Capital

Fund, local fund are used for the purchase of vehicles and equipment, where each unit has a value of at least $5,000

and a useful life of greater than a year. Asset Maintenance expenditures are locally funded projects that maintain,

repair, or rehabilitate an existing capital asset of the Authority. These projects are of smaller duration, scope, and

expense than those indicated in the RTA Development Fund. The duration of these projects is often less than one

year with a cost generally not exceeding $150,000 and a useful life of less than five years. The RTA Development Fund

includes both a majority of the larger rehabilitation projects and Authority’s Long Range projects. These projects are

greater than $150,000 and have a useful life of more than five years. The RTA Development Fund is primarily, but not

exclusively, supported through Federal grant awards.

Capital Improvement Budget – The current year estimated revenues and expenses of construction projects and

capital equipment purchases in the Capital Improvement Plan. The Capital Budget includes maintenance and

expansion projects that are funded through grants and local sources.

Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) – A five to ten year plan for constructing, acquiring, or maintaining capital assets.

Cash Accounting – A major accounting method that recognizes revenues and expenses at the time physical cash is

actually received or paid out.

Cash Deficit – Occurs when a fund is carrying a negative cash balance. This situation typically requires a cash transfer

to remedy.

Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) – Video cameras transmit a signal to a specific or limited set of monitors. CCTV is used for

surveillance in areas that need security, such as rapid stations, transit facilities, Park‐N‐Rides, and the airport.

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report – See CAFR

Computer Integrated Transit Maintenance Environment (CITME) – A computer program, created by UltraMain,

purchased to assist in modernizing maintenance and inventory operations through management by data.

Continual Process Improvement – Measuring efficiency of resources used for process investments.

Controlled‐Access Right‐of‐Way (ROW) – Lanes restricted for a portion of the day for use by transit vehicles and

other high occupancy vehicles (HOV).

Budget Guide 51

Cost Ceiling – A limit on the reimbursed costs for federally supported capital projects.

Cost per Hour of Service – Rate of cost for each hour of revenue service.

Customer Engagement – Customer’s investment or commitment or loyalty to RTA’s brand and services.

Customer Satisfaction – A measure of how transit services meet or surpass customers’ expectations.

Debt Limit – A statutory or constitutional limit on the principal amount of debt that an issuer may incur or have

outstanding at one time.

Debt Service – Principal and interest paid on bonds and notes.

Debt Service Coverage – The measure of the Authority’s ability to meet annual interest and principal payments on

outstanding debts.

Decision Issue – A budget request for new or increased funding of projects or programs, which exceeds base budget

requests. Use of decision issues aids the process of allocating financial resources and provides for the comparison and

prioritization of existing programs and services relative to the need for new programs and services.

Depreciation – The reduction in value of a capital asset due to use, age, or wear.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) – A program intended to ensure nondiscrimination in the award and

administration of the Authority’s programs and contracts.

Displaced Emissions / Displacement – Reduced emissions of private vehicles on a regional or national level through

increased use of public transit services.

Door‐to‐Door Service – Paratransit Service where drivers have been instructed to pick‐up and drop‐off passengers

at the front door of places of residence, at the front door of the apartment buildings in which they live, or front door

of destination.

DriveCam – System installed on revenue fleets to monitor driver behaviors, coach unsafe behavior, and reduce

accidents and incidents.

Employee Engagement – The emotional and intellectual commitment of an employee, or segment of employees,

committed to accomplishing RTA’s strategic objectives, mission, and vision.

Employee Injury Rates – Metric monitoring rate of employee injuries or accidents; 1 occurrence per 200,000 hours

worked.

Employee Satisfaction – When employees are happy with their workplace and benefits provided by the organization;

including incentives, recognition, and events.

Encumbrances – A budgetary technique for recording unperformed contracts for goods and services. Use of

encumbrances restricts the balance in each fund so that total commitments (expenditures plus encumbrances) will

not exceed appropriations.

Exclusive Right‐of‐Way (ROW) – Roadway or other right‐of‐way (ROW) lanes reserved at all times for transit use and

/ or other high occupancy vehicles (HOV).

Executive Management Team (EMT) – The General Manager’s first level of management, which includes Deputy

General Managers and Executive Directors.

Expenditure – An expense that a business incurs as a result of performing its normal business operations.

Budget Guide 52

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – To grant employees temporary medical leave under certain circumstances.

FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act – The new Federal Transportation Act that will replace the

MAP‐21 Act with approval expected in December, 2015. This act is will continue many of the programs changes

included in the MAP‐21 legislation including Federal formula calculations, the 2010 Census data in the determination

of those formula grants, and incorporation of operating statistics relative to all Transit Agencies as well as provide an

increase in Federal funding for needed State of Good Repair projects.

Federal Highway Administration (FHA) – Supports all of America’s roads and highways and ensures them to be the

safest and most technologically up‐to‐date. Although State, local, and tribal governments own most of the Nation’s

highways, the FHA provides financial and technical support to them for constructing, improving, and preserving

America’s highway system.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) – Supports a variety of locally planned, constructed, and operated public

transportation systems throughout the U.S., including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, streetcars, monorail,

passenger ferry boats, inclined railways, and people movers.

Financial Vision – Objectives identified to achieve financial stability and fiscal responsibility.

Financial Management System (FMS) – The information system software that houses all financial data and includes

the General Ledger, Procurement, and Budget Modules.

Fiscal Responsibility – Commitment to managing financial resources as if they were from our own pocket.

Fiscal Year – The 12‐month period that the Authority uses for accounting purposes. The Fiscal Year for the Authority

is concurrent with the Calendar Year.

Fixed Guideway (FG) – A separate right‐of‐way (ROW) for the exclusive use of public transportation vehicles. The

Heavy Rail and Light Rail modes operate exclusively on fixed guideway (FG).

Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) – The world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, committed to

improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education,

legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation.

Full‐Time Equivalent (FTE) Position – A part‐time position converted to the decimal equivalent of a full‐time position

based on 2,080 hours per year for 40 hours per week employees.

Functional Testing – Quality assurance testing process of customers used to determine physical ability to use fixed

route services.

Fund – A reserve of money set‐aside for a specific purpose. The RTA has specific funds set up for Operating (General),

Capital, Insurance, Bonds, Pension, and Law Enforcement. There are also reserve funds in place for diesel fuel,

compensated absences, hospitalization, and replacement train cars.

Fund Deficit – An excess of expenditures over revenues during a fiscal year. This is not an acceptable condition and

must be addressed by transferring revenue to the fund in deficit. See Balanced Budget.

Fund Type – See Fund.

GAAP – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. These principles are guidelines and rules for use by accountants

in preparing financial statements.

General Obligation (GO) Bond – A bond that is secured by the full faith and credit of the Authority. The GCRTA

pledges to utilize its taxing power (almost always Sales Tax proceeds) to pay debt service.

Budget Guide 53

Goal – A statement of direction, purpose, or intent based on the needs of the community. A goal is not concerned

with a specific achievement in a given time period.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions – Atmospheric gases contributing to the greenhouse effect; includes carbon dioxide,

methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.

Growth Strategy – Objectives focused on improving Advocacy, Service Usage, and Passenger Satisfaction.

Guideway – A separate right‐of‐way (ROW) or rail system for the exclusive use of public transportation including the

buildings and structures dedicated for the operation of transit vehicles. Includes tunnels, subways, bridges, tracks,

and power systems.

HealthLine – A route providing service along Euclid Avenue that is of a higher quality than an ordinary bus line. This

service improves transit, as well as supports increased development along Euclid Avenue with links to medical,

educational, and cultural centers in Greater Cleveland.

Heavy Rail Vehicle (HRV) – Operate on the Red Line, from the Airport to Windermere Rapid Station. Heavy Rail is a

transit mode that is an electric railway with the capacity for a heavy volume of traffic.

Indirect Costs – The expenses of doing business that are not readily identified with the Authority’s transportation,

but rather with the general operation of the organization, such as finance, accounting, engineering, legal, and human

resources.

Information Technology (IT) Environment – Applications and systems needed to support business operations;

impact of systems on efficiencies of an operating environment.

Innovation, Learning, & Growth – Efficiency measures of people investments; mainly Employee Satisfaction and

Employee Engagement indicators.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) – A phone technology that allows a computer to detect voice and touch tones using

a normal phone call. The IVR system can respond with pre‐recorded or dynamically generated audio to further direct

callers on how to proceed.

Interest – The amount paid for the use of money.

Interest Expense – The charges for the use of borrowed capital incurred by the transit agency, including

Interest on long term and short‐term debt obligations.

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) – A legislative initiative setting policy guidance

and providing funding for highway, transit, and safety programs. It expired in 1998.

Key Transit 2025 – The long‐range plan to help guide the future development of public transit in Cuyahoga County,

which focuses on bringing RTA's transit infrastructure up to higher standards and encouraging transit‐oriented

design, or TOD. Related to nationwide efforts towards Smart Growth, TOD encourages locating transit and

development in close proximity in order to reduce auto dependency and improve transit access.

Legal Millage Rate – The stated rate, in mills, for levying real and personal property taxes.

Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) – Operate on the Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines. Light Rail is a transit mode that typically

is an electric railway with a light volume traffic capacity, compared to Heavy Rail (HR).

Management Development Program (MDP) Succession planning program to integrate external talent throughout

the organization.

Budget Guide 54

MAP‐21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century) – A new Federal Transportation Act that replaces the

SAFETEA‐LU and TEA‐21 Acts. This act changed the Federal formula calculations, includes the Census 2010 data in

the determination of those formula grants, and incorporates operating statistics relative to all Transit Agencies.

Market Value – The County Auditor’s estimate of the true or fair value of real or personal property. In accounting, it

is the price that a good or service would command on the open market.

Material Issues – Topics of highest importance in consensus identified by internal and external stakeholders.

Materiality Assessment – Defining the social, economic, and environmental topics that matter most to RTA and

RTA’s stakeholders.

Miles Between Service Interruptions (MBSI) – Measured by miles; total service delivered before a vehicle breakdown

that causes a service interruption.

Mill – The equivalent of $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed value of real or personal property.

Mixed Traffic Right‐of‐Way (ROW) – Roadways that have no time restrictions nor restrictions on what type of

vehicles may use them.

Mode – A general term for the different kinds of transportation used to transport people.

NOACA – Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. It is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning

Organization (MPO) for five counties of Northeast Ohio, which include Greater Cleveland and the Lorain area. Its

chief functions are to perform long‐ and short‐range transportation planning, transportation‐related air quality

planning, and areawide water quality management planning, as defined by federal and Ohio mandates.

Notes – Short‐term promises to pay specified amounts of money, secured by specific sources of future revenue.

Revenue – The amount of money that a company actually receives during a specific period, usually a year.

Object – A commodity‐based expenditure classification which describes articles purchased or services obtained. It

represents the lowest degree of expenditure summary and budgetary control.

Objective – Desired output‐oriented accomplishments, which can be measured and achieved within a given time

frame.

Office of Business Development (OBD) – Engage, support, and assist the local disadvantaged business community

to help ensure fair and representative participation in procurement opportunities at RTA and within the community

at‐large. The primary function of the Office of Business Development (OBD) is to administer RTA’s Disadvantaged

Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.

Official Statement – A document prepared by the Authority when issuing debt that gives financial and statistical

information to potential investors and others.

Ohio Depository Act – Requires a written investment policy that is approved by the treasurer of a political subdivision

or governing board, or by the investing authority of a county, to be on file with the State Auditor. The policy must

provide that all entities conducting investment business with a subdivision treasurer or governing board or county

investment authority sign the investment policy of that subdivision or county.

ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) – State operating and capital subsidies are distributed to the Authority

by ODOT.

On‐Time Performance – Schedule adherence; ability to deliver service as scheduled.

Budget Guide 55

Operating Budget – Current year estimated revenues and expenses that provide for the day‐to‐day operations of the

Authority.

Operating Deficit – The sum of all operating revenues minus operating expenses. See Balanced Budget.

Operating Ratio – A ratio that shows the efficiency of management by comparing operating expenses to fare

revenues.

Operating Reserve – The available ending balance. A reserve is maintained as a safeguard to protect the organization

in times of cyclical economic downturns and will be replenished as the economy improves. The Board Policy requires

at least one month’s operating reserve. RTA recently added three reserves for fuel, medical, and compensated

absences.

Outlays – The payments on obligations in the form of cash, checks, the issuance of bonds or notes, or the maturing

of interest coupons.

Park‐N‐Ride – Parking lots owned by the GCRTA to provide rail and/or bus services for all major commuter corridors

in Cuyahoga County.

Pass‐Thru – A situation where the Authority functions as a channel for the expenditure of funds from another source

without authorization to decide the use of the funds.

People Investments – Resources allocated to developing and supporting workforce capabilities.

Performance Management – Culture of continual improvement of transit services, operational processes, and

administrative processes; fostered by collecting, sharing, and analysis of data and reported through various

mechanisms like TransitStat, Executive Safety Committee, Quarterly Management Meetings, and other forums.

Preventive Maintenance – Regularly performance maintenance on vehicles, equipment, or facilities to reduce

probability of failure.

Predictive Maintenance – Defining the condition of assets in order to predict maintenance; cost savings through

time‐based maintenance best practices.

Preventable Collision Rates – Metric monitoring rate of collisions defined as preventable; 1 occurrence per 100,000

miles.

Principal – The face amount of a bond, which the issuer promises to pay at maturity.

Process Investments – Committing resources to improving priority, value‐creation processes.

Program – A group of related activities performed by one or more organizational units for the purpose of

accomplishing an objective.

Public Transit Management Academy (PTMA) – RTA program in partnership with Cleveland State University (CSU),

which provides leadership development across all workforce segments.

Ratings – Designations used by ratings services to indicate the financial health of the issuers of debt.

Reimbursed Expenditures – Operating fund reimbursements related to: capital grants for force account labor,

project expenses, administration, and overhead costs; fuel tax refunds on diesel and gasoline purchases; and Federal

and State operating assistance.

Repurchase Agreement – A money market transaction in which one party sells securities to another while agreeing

to repurchase those securities at a later date.

Budget Guide 56

Resolution – A legal and public declaration by the Board of Trustees of intent, policy, or authorization. Resolutions

are the legislation of the Authority.

Resolution Category – One of two cost categories at which the Board of Trustees controls operating budget

expenditures. These include Personnel Services and Other Expenditures.

Revenue Bond – A bond on which the debt service is payable solely from the revenue generated from the operation

of the project being financed.

Ridership – Number of people using a transit service, generally aggregated over a given period of time across several

modes or services.

Routine Capital – Budgeted expenses for equipment, where the useful life of which is a year or more and the unit cost

is at least $1,000. These expenses are locally, not grant, funded.

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA‐LU) – A legislative

authorization for transit approved in 2005. It is a six‐year initiative, which replaces the expired Transportation Equity

Act for the Twenty‐First Century (TEA‐21).

Senior Transportation Connection (STC) – Of Cuyahoga County is designed to be the centralized coordinating unit

for senior transportation services in Cuyahoga County. The STC’s mission is to provide comprehensive, efficient, and

affordable transportation for senior adults in the county.

Service Capacity – The comparison of scheduled miles to actual, delivered miles optimized by available operators

and vehicles.

Service Indicator – An output measure showing a statistical workload change or the degree to which program

objectives are achieved.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) – Methods followed routinely for performance of defined operations or

situations.

State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) – A funding initiative administered by the State of Ohio, Department of

Transportation. The SIB provides low‐cost loans for transportation infrastructure projects.

State of Good Repair (SOGR) – A Federal initiative to identify and maintain the nation’s assets for bus and rail

systems. This is essential for delivering safe and reliable transit service to millions of daily riders and one of the FTA’s

highest priorities.

Strategic Plan – Process outlining RTA’s Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) and prioritized Changed Initiatives (CIs).

Strategy Map – Tool aligning and prioritizing key objectives for implementing the Strategic Plan.

Succession Planning – Program in place to develop future leaders for RTA.

Sustainability – Ability to continue a defined behavior or process indefinitely; maintain availability of natural and

human capital for the foreseeable future.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – Provides grants to states to fund a wide array of benefits and

services, primarily to low‐income families with children. It is best known for funding cash welfare benefits to needy

families with children, but it also is used to fund transportation aid and assistance.

Tax Levy – The total amount to be raised by general property taxes for purposes specified in the Tax Budget.

Budget Guide 57

Threat and Vulnerability Assessment (TVA) – Analyzes all the aspects of security: physical, personnel, information,

and communication. It measures the current threat capabilities against emplaced security measures and operating

procedures to identify vulnerabilities.

Tons CO2e – Measure of greenhouse gas impact on climate change as referenced through concentration levels of

CO2.

TransitStat – The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s performance monitoring program. It is

characterized with frequently scheduled performance monitoring forums, embracing the use of data, statistics, and

metrics as a means to exceed customers’ expectations, as well as achieve operational excellence. It is a critical link to

achieving high‐level performance directed towards the Authority’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty‐First Century (TEA‐21) – A legislative authorization for transit originally

approved in mid‐1998. It is a five‐year initiative, which originally expired in 2003, but was extended by Congress

pending an agreement on new transit legislation. It expired in 2005.

Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) – The official listing of highway, transit, bikeway, airport, and harbor

projects covering a five‐year period.

Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) – Created by the Ohio General Assembly in 1997 to bring an open,

fair, numbers‐driven system to choosing major new transportation projects.

Unlinked Passenger Trip – A one‐way ride on a transit vehicle, not including transfers, and despite fare type.

U‐Pass (Universal Pass) – offers university students a discounted transportation pass. Currently students at Case

Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland State University (CSU), Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cleveland

Institute of Music have U‐Passes.

Urban Mass Transportation Act (UMTA) of 1964 – As amended, an Act of Congress providing funds to the Authority

under various programs:

Section 5309 (formerly Section 3) – A Federal discretionary program directed primarily to those rail

modernization and major bus projects that require funding beyond that available under Section 9.

Section 5307 (formerly Section 9) – A Federal formula program which makes resources available

to urbanized areas for planning, capital, and operating assistance purposes. Funding allocations

are earmarked by Congress.

Title 23 Interstate Transfer Fund – Federal funding which had been made available for alternative projects

due to the elimination of Interstate 490 from the Federal Interstate Highway Program. Funding for this

program was split between highway and transit projects. Also established by Section 134, Title 23 of the

United States Code. All funds have been exhausted at this time.

Vehicle Reliability – Minimize the impact of vehicle defects on On‐Time Performance through improved

maintenance practices for vehicles and equipment.

Voice of Customer – Process for collecting customer‐focused information.

This page left intentionally blank

Fund Budgets 59

FUND BUDGETS The Authority maintains its financial books of accounts on the accrual basis of accounting, using a single enterprise fund to

report the results of its operations. However, separate funds are maintained on the books of the Authority in order to best

account for its various revenues that are designated for specific purposes.

Since the Authority is an independent, special purpose political subdivision of the State of Ohio, fund budgets are prepared

on a modified accrual basis of accounting. The revenues are budgeted on a cash basis – when they are received as opposed

to when they are earned. The expenditures are adjusted monthly on the accrual basis, or when the liabilities were incurred.

The Authority uses the following appropriated funds to account for its operations:

ALL FUNDS (Summary of all Funds) (See figure 2)

GENERAL FUND (Enterprise Fund ‐ Operating Budget and transfers to other funds) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUNDS (Summary of RTA Capital and RTA Development Funds)

RTA CAPITAL FUND (Funding set aside for Short‐Term and locally‐funded Capital projects)

RTA DEVELOPMENT FUND (Funding set aside for Long‐Term and grant‐funded Capital projects)

BOND RETIREMENT FUND (Funding set aside to pay off debt) SUPPLEMENTAL PENSION FUND (Funding set aside for employees hired before GCRTA) INSURANCE FUND (Funding set aside for self‐insurance purposes) LAW ENFORCEMENT FUND (Funding set aside for law enforcement purposes)

A fund balance is the difference between total resources (beginning

cash balance plus total revenues) and total expenditures.

In the following presentation, fund balances for the General Fund and

RTA Capital Fund represent the unencumbered, unreserved balance

(referred to as the available end of year balance). These fund

balances are shown net of reserves for encumbrances. All other

funds are reflected in cash balances.

The end of year balance of a fund provides a measure of a fund or entity’s financial health and is

useful in spotting negative trends. The following analysis focuses on the Authority’s major funds (listed above in bold)

and addresses future trends within those balances. The analysis also presents details on the components of revenue and

trends in expenditures.

ALL FUNDS

BALANCE ANALYSIS

Figure 2 presents the combined fund balances of all the Authority’s appropriated Funds (General, Capital Improvement,

Bond Retirement, Insurance, Supplemental Pension, and Law Enforcement). The ending balance shows cyclical patterns,

primarily increasing as a result of debt issuances, and decreasing as those funds are consumed.

The Sales & Use Tax revenue, the largest source of revenue for RTA, receipts dropped $19 million, 10.9%, in 2009 due to

the great recession. This was the most dramatic decline in Sales Tax in the history of the Authority. In late 2009, Medicaid

Managed Health Care was added to the Sales & Use Tax base. By the end of 2015, Sales & Use Tax rose 4.4% compared to

receipts in 2014. Sales & Use Tax is projected to increase by 6.1% at the end of the 3rd Quarter, 2016.

Figure 19

HOW TO CALCULATE FUND BALANCE

Beginning Balance + Current Revenues = Total Resources

‐ (Less) Total Current Expenditures

= (Equals) Available Ending Balance (Also called Fund Balance)

Fund Budgets 60

RTA has been diligent in creating a sustainable budget, however, as levels of Federal and State funding are questionable,

keeping a sustainable budget

remains difficult. Funding for Sales

and Use Tax in 2017 and 2018 is

expected to decrease as Medicaid

Managed Health Care will be

removed from the tax base due to

Federal regulations. This will impact

revenues for 2017 in the Fourth

Quarter and then annualized in 2018.

The Authority has improved

financially over the last six years,

however challenges still remain as

total expenditures continue to

exceed total revenues. (Figure 21)

ALL

FUNDS

GENERAL

FUND

RTA CAPITAL

FUND

DEVELOPMENT

FUND

BOND

RETIREMENT

FUND

SUPPLEMENTAL

PENSION FUND

INSURANCE

FUND

LAW

ENFORCEMENT

FUND

$56,438 $21,970 $2,372 $23,022 $2,089 $1,305 $5,418 $262

Revenues

Passenger Fares $46,872 $46,872

Sales & Use Tax $217,100 $217,100

Federal $59,345 $59,345

State $1,385 $1,385

Investment Income $169 $70 $20 $53 $3 $13 $10 $0

Other Revenue

Advertising & Concessions $1,552

Trolley Assistance $640

Other Revenue $1,200 $55

Debt Service Proceeds $52,075 $22,075 $30,000

Transfer from General Fund $13,276 $19,284 $75 $2,400

Transfer from RTA Capital Fund $9,537

$380,393 $289,509 $13,296 $100,320 $19,287 $88 $2,410 $55

$436,830 $311,479 $15,668 $123,342 $21,376 $1,393 $7,828 $317

Expenditures

Personnel Services

Salaries & Overtime $143,300

Fringe Benefits $53,208

Diesel Fuel $7,742 $7,742

Natural Gas $2,245 $2,245

Other Expenditures $61,001 $2 $32

Claims and Premium Outlay $2,657

Benefit Payments $71

Rolling Stock Reserve $426

Capital Outlay $91,300

Asset Maintenance $1,900

Routine Capital $2,200

Debt Service

Principal $12,622

Interest $6,502

Transfer to Other Funds

Insurance Fund $2,400

Supplemental Pension Fund $75

Bond Retirement Fund $19,284

RTA Capital Fund $13,276

RTA Development Fund $9,537

Total Expenditures $385,208 $302,957 $13,637 $91,300 $19,126 $71 $2,657 $32

$51,622 $8,522 $2,031 $32,042 $2,250 $1,322 $5,171 $285

(In Thousands)

2017 Budget ‐ All Funds Summary

$64,189

Beginning Balance

Total Resources

Total Revenues

Available Ending Balance

$3,447

$196,508

$95,400

$19,124

Figure 20

Figure 21

Fund Budgets 61

GENERAL FUND

BALANCE ANALYSIS

The General Fund is the Enterprise Fund and general operating fund of the Authority and accounts for all revenue and

expenditures except for activities related to capital improvements, debt service, catastrophic/extraordinary losses, and

supplemental pension benefits. The combination of dramatic sales tax reduction, increasing personnel costs, and volatile

fuel/utility costs had created a discouraging outlook in the past, when the ending balance dropped to an all‐time low of $2.8

million in 2009 due to the Great Recession.

In 2010, hard decisions had to be made, including a 12% service reduction and closing Harvard Garage on weekends, both

implemented in April, and in September, Harvard Garage was closed altogether. A combination of a 5.6% recovery in Sales

Tax (due to Medicaid Managed Health Care being added to the tax base), additional one‐time grant funding, an increase in

reimbursed expenditures, and continuous monitoring of operating expenses, the ending balance grew to $20.4 million. To

help alleviate the stress of another recession, a reserve of $4.6 million was subtracted from the ending balance.

Meeting the one‐month reserve policy had been a challenge before 2009, which was last met between 1994 and 1996. In

2010, this goal was finally met at 1.2 months reserve, with the help of a 5.6% increase in Sales & Use Tax revenue. From

2010 through 2014, the one‐month reserve was met each year. In 2015, revenues decreased by $4 million and operating

expenses for personnel services (salaries, overtime, and fringe benefits) increased by $4 million (particularly in

hospitalization and prescription costs in the last 3 weeks of the year), dropping the operating reserve to 0.8 months.

In 2016, the Authority has aggressively executed the budget and controlled costs. These actions have increased

accountability within the Departments. The Authority is projected to maintain expenses in 2016 to 2015 levels. Sales and

Use Tax is projected to end the year 6.1 percent over 2015 levels and is the highest received, projected at $218.4 million.

Reimbursed Expenditures were reduced below $25 million to increase the amount of funding for Capital Projects. Excellent

budget execution increased the 2016 projected ending balance to $5 million above the 2015 level. RTA is beginning to meet

its goal of a sustainable General Fund balance, however, good budget execution is only half of the equation. In order to

maintain a sustainable budget, the Authority needs to hone in on budget development. The work and results of the past

six years must be continued in 2017 and beyond.

REVENUES

Revenue is received from a number of sources to support activity in the General Fund. A discussion of the major sources

of revenue follows.

Sales and Use Tax and Passenger Fare Revenue are the two largest sources of revenue in the General Fund. In 2008, Sales

& Use Tax and Passenger Fare Revenue represented just over 55.7%, or $221.7 million, of total Authority revenue. In 2009,

with the Great Recession, these revenues dropped significantly to $204.3 million, primarily due to the sharp drop in Sales

& Use Tax revenue. Medicaid Managed Health Care was added to the tax base in late 2009 and Sales & Use Tax revenue

increased to $163.2 million in 2010. From 2011 through 2014, Sales & Use Tax continued to increase with the help of the

added Medicaid Managed Health Care. These revenues for 2015 totaled $254.3 million, or 90.3 percent of total revenue, as

Sales & Use Tax increased above the $200 million threshold. For 2016, the projection is $262.7 million, or 90.2 percent of

total revenue, as Passenger Fare Revenue is dropping due to a decrease in total ridership.

In 2016, Passenger Fares were projected to increase by 2.7 percent due to the budgeting of a $0.25 fare increase, starting

in the Third Quarter, a slight service decrease, and the Republican National Convention (RNC) being held in Cleveland. In

June Passenger Fare Revenue increased slightly due to the Cleveland Cavaliers winning the 2016 NBA Championship and

again in September and October when the Cleveland Indians played in the World Series. These events helped ridership

increase for a moment, but could not help sustain ridership throughout the year.

Fund Budgets 62

Federal and State assistance for Paratransit, Trolleys, and Access to Jobs were discontinued in 2015. Total revenue for 2017

is expected to decrease by 0.6 percent from 2016 receipts, mainly due to Medicaid Managed Health Care being removed

from the Sales and Use Tax base due to a Federal mandate. This reduction in Sales and Use Tax revenue will be significant

in 2018, where the reduction is annualized. The Authority must continue to control expenses in order to maintain a healthy

ending balance, which will become more difficult in the future unless additional sources of revenue are found.

SALES & USE TAX

The Authority’s main source of revenue is a one percent Sales and Use Tax on sales of tangible personal property and on

other transactions subject to the State Sales and Use Tax within the boundaries of Cuyahoga County. The one percent tax

is of unlimited duration and was approved by the voters of Cuyahoga County in July 1975. The tax is levied and collected at

the same time and on the same transactions as the permanent 5.25 percent Sales and Use Tax levied by the State, plus the

one‐half percent temporary state sales tax, one‐quarter percent levied for the Medical Mart, and the one percent tax levied

by Cuyahoga County. The tax is administered and enforced by State taxing authorities and is distributed on a monthly

basis, approximately two months following the collection of the tax by the State (three months after the tax is paid by

consumers).

Beginning in 1989, Board policy required that a minimum of 10 percent of annual Sales and Use Tax revenues be dedicated

to capital improvements. The presentation of Sales Tax revenue (as reported in Figure 4) indicates total receipts received,

not the approximately 90 percent that is actually used to fund operations.

Sales tax receipts dedicated to capital improvements are reported as a fund transfer from the General Fund to the RTA

Capital Fund. However, in the Authority’s accounting records, sales tax receipts dedicated to capital improvements are

treated as direct revenue to the RTA Capital Fund, not as a transfer. In 1995, the direct contribution was further defined to

include the transfer to the Bond Retirement Fund.

In the past, even in slower economic growth periods, sales tax has performed relatively well. Sales tax receipts from 1995

to 2000 showed increases of 7.6%, 3.2%, 4.8%, 5.2%, 4.8%, and 6.3%, respectively. In 2001, the recession hit and Sales &

Use Tax receipts decreased by 1.6%. Between 2001 and 2008, Sales & Use Tax receipts fluctuated up and down as the

economy tried to rebound from the recession. In 2009, the Great Recession hit and Sales & Use Tax receipts plummeted

10.9%. (Figure 22)

In late 2009, Medicaid

Managed Health Care was

added to the tax base. These

added receipts helped to

steadily increase the total

Sales & Use Tax receipts

collected each year. In 2014,

the State was ordered by

Federal mandate to remove

Medicaid Managed Health

Care from the Sales & Use Tax

base as it was unlawful to tax a

portion of Managed Health

Care. The Federal

Government gave the State

until the next budget cycle,

beginning July 2017, to either

remove the Medicaid portion of Managed Figure 22

Fund Budgets 63

Health Care or identify a solution where all Managed Health Care would be taxed. For 2017, the budget estimates a

reduction of $4.5 million from the total receipts as the State has not identified a revenue neutral solution. For 2018, this

reduction is annualized and a 3.5 percent reduction in Sales & Use Tax is budgeted. In 2019, the receipts are expected to

rebound, without the Medicaid Managed Health Care, by 2.5 percent, ending at $214.7 million.

PASSENGER FARES

Passenger Fares are the second largest source of revenue for the Authority. Passenger fares consist of cash farebox revenue

from Authority trains and buses, fares for Paratransit, receipts collected through the RTA CLE Mobile Ticketing App, and

sales of passes and tickets from various vendors within Cuyahoga County.

A brief history of Passenger Fare increases is below and refers to figure 5, a chart of Passenger Fares from the last 20 years.

In 1993, cash fares were increased by $0.25 for a total of $1.25. With the recession in 2001, unemployment increased from

a low of 4.1 percent in 1999 to 6.7 percent in 2002. The population in Cuyahoga County decreased as jobs decreased. In

2003, Brooklyn Garage was closed and service was consolidated to the other three Districts. By 2005, unemployment levels

rose to 7.5 percent as many manufacturing jobs were eliminated, which made the economy in northeast Ohio difficult to

recover. During the period between 2003 and 2005, passenger fare revenue lagged behind ridership due to the recession,

modifications in the fare policies and changes in customer travel patterns. Therefore, in 2006 the Board of Trustees

approved a two‐phase fare increase effective in July 2006 and January 2008, which helped boost fare revenue.

From 2005 through the beginning of 2008, jobs in the health care and financial industries helped to bring life back into the

area and unemployment levels dropped slightly in 2008 to 6.3 percent. The next hurdle was a 60 percent increase in Diesel

Fuel prices, from $12.1 million in 2007 to $19.3 million in 2008. In 2009, a firm fixed price contract was created, which

slightly lowered fuel prices to $17.4 million by year‐end. In order to offset the significant increase in fuel prices, the

Authority added a $0.50 fuel surcharge. The Federal and State governments provided operating assistance and the fuel

surcharge was implemented into two $0.25 phases, the first beginning October 2008 and the second $0.25 implemented

in September 2009. With the Great recession of 2009, the fuel surcharge was permanently added as part of the fare in

2010.

In 2009, the Great Recession greatly affected North East Ohio as the region was still recovering from the recession of 2001.

Unemployment rose to 11 percent and Passenger Fare revenue dropped 8.6 percent from budgeted levels. RTA adjusted

service levels in 2010 and implemented a 12 percent service reduction in April and minor service changes throughout the

remainder of the year. As

the price of diesel fuel and

gasoline remained high, the

fare increases took effect,

and some service was

restored, passenger fares

increased in 2011 and 2012

by 1.8 percent and 2.5

percent, respectively.

Passenger Fares ended

2014 at $49.1 million, or a

0.8 percent increase from

2013. This was mainly due

to 2013 payments from

Cleveland Metropolitan

School District (CMSD)

being received in 2014. For 2015, Figure 23

Fund Budgets 64

Passenger Fares decreased by 1.4 percent, compared to 2014 receipts, due to an audit of the CMSD contract, which resulted

in an additional $1.1 million, but was not received until January 2016. In 2016, a $0.25 increase in cash fares was budgeted

for mid‐year, but not executed until the Third Quarter. Ridership increased slightly in June as the Cleveland Cavaliers won

the NBA Championship and subsequent parade, which provided for the Authority’s heaviest ridership in history and

enabled a trial run for the Republican National Convention in July. Effects from the 2016 fare increase are annualized in

2017 and a second $0.25 fare increase is planned for August 2018, which is then annualized in 2019.

INVESTMENT INCOME

The Authority pursues an aggressive cash management and investment program in order to achieve maximum financial

return on all available funds. Idle cash balances are invested at the best interest rates available within the constraints

imposed by State law and RTA financial policies. Current policy permits the Investment Officer to invest idle cash in

certificates of deposit or repurchase agreements with depositories designated by the Board of Trustees, in U.S.

Government securities, in securities of agencies, which are guaranteed by the U.S. Government, and in the State

investment pool (Star Ohio).

Under the criteria developed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), much of the Authority's deposits

and investments are included in risk category 2 or 3. Such deposits and investments are either secured by a pool of

investments (not in the Authority's name) held by a Federal Reserve Bank or other banks for the pledging financial

institution, or are held in the Authority's name at the trust department of the counter party to the investment transaction.

Because the Authority's deposits and investments are generally held by large, financially sound, national banks, the security

supporting the Authority's deposits and investments is adequate.

Public depositories must give security for all public funds on deposit. These institutions may either specifically collateralize

individual accounts in lieu of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), or may pledge a pool

of government securities the face value of which is at least 110% of the total value of public monies on deposit at the

institution. Repurchase agreements must be secured by the specific government securities upon which the repurchase

agreements are based. These securities must be obligations of or guaranteed by the United States and mature or be

redeemable within five years of the date of the related repurchase agreement.

Investment income steadily increased from 2005 to 2008 as ending balances increased. For 2009 and 2010 investment

income dropped 76.0 percent and 63.9 percent, respectively, as a result of significantly lower balances and Federal Reserve

actions lowering short‐term rates. In 2012 through 2015, Investment Income ended the year above $150,000, as ending

balances remained high. For 2016, investment income dropped to $70,000 and is budgeted to remain at this level from

2017 through 2019. Interest earned on General Fund investments varies depending upon the timing of revenue receipts,

expenditures, and the transfers made to other funds (shifting interest earnings from the General Fund to other funds).

ADVERTISING & CONCESSIONS

Another source of local income is the Authority’s contract to place advertisements upon buses and trains. A 3‐year contract

was signed in late 2011 guaranteeing $725,000 with a potential to increase this to $1 million. In addition, the Authority

would receive $125,000 (net) from the HealthLine naming rights contract and entered into a new contract in 2014 with

Cleveland State University for the naming rights of the West Shore Express, now called the Cleveland State Line. The

Authority received over $1.4 million from 2013 and 2014 for Advertising and Naming Rights and collected $1.5 million in

2015. For 2016, Advertising and Concessions remains at $1.5 million. In 2017, the Authority will begin a new advertising

contract and will begin to advertise on buses and trains through canned “commercials” on the overhead speakers. This is

a new venture for the Authority. The Advertising and Concessions budget for 2017 is $1.6 million. For 2018 and 2019,

receipts from this revenue source are planned to increase slightly each year to $1.68 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

Fund Budgets 65

FEDERAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE

This category includes grant reimbursements related to the capital program (project force account labor, administration,

and overhead costs), fuel tax refunds on diesel and gasoline purchases in Ohio, and Federal and State (capitalized)

operating assistance. An emphasis on capital financing urges maximum use of capital grants to recover a portion of our

engineering and construction costs.

Federal Operating grant dollars are drawn down on cash flow requirements in the General Fund. The amount and timing

of revenue received from this source in any year fluctuates, based on the Authority's ability to draw down these funds and

the amount of the grant. In 1996, Federal Operating Assistance declined from 1995 levels by nearly 47 percent. This is a

result of Congressional action that substantially reduced operating assistance to transit agencies through 1998 and led to

total elimination by the end of 1999.

Although Federal Operating Assistance was eliminated, some flexibility was given to use increases in capital grant awards

for traditional maintenance type expenditures. A new authorization, TEA‐21, was approved in mid‐1998 and although it

was generous in its support of the capital program and provided some flexibility in capitalizing operating expenses, it was

certain in its elimination of Federal Operating Assistance, which at one time was nearly 14.3 percent of the Authority's

resources.

Though utilizing the flexibility provided has helped to support the Authority’s level of service, as revenue challenges have

arisen and been met over the years, it represents an ongoing disinvestment in the Authority’s capital state of good repair

in favor of maintaining service levels. Further explanations of revenues from this source are presented under Reimbursed

Expenditures and Other Revenue.

STATE OPERATING ASSISTANCE

State operating funds were received from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for elderly and handicapped

assistance. These funds were awarded annually and correspond to the state fiscal year (July 1 through June 30). In 1999,

nearly $5 million of State Operating Assistance was completely eliminated with an equivalent amount given as a capital

grant. The same was true in 2000 – 2004, though flexibility was given to allow the capitalization of operating expenses, but

beginning in 2005, its use for capitalized operating assistance was limited.

In 2007, $2.2 million was awarded and received from the state for elderly and handicapped fare assistance. The 2008 award

for elderly and handicapped fare assistance was reduced and delayed until 2009 when the combined amount received for

the two years was $2.76 million. In 2010, the amount received for elderly and handicapped fare assistance was further

reduced to $619,057. In 2011, the State halted all funding in this category.

REIMBURSED EXPENDITURES AND OTHER REVENUE

Reimbursed expenditures include grant funded reimbursements of expenses within the General Fund and include

Preventive Maintenance (PM) activities; expense reimbursements for the Access to Jobs program, Paratransit, HealthLine

and Trolley operations; for labor costs associated with the capital program; fuel tax refunds on diesel, compressed natural

gas, propane, and gasoline purchases from the State of Ohio; and one‐time fuel cost reimbursements from the State of

Ohio. In 2008, these sources contributed $36.6 million, or nearly 14 percent of total General Fund revenue. In response to

the dramatic decrease in Sales & Use Tax revenue during 2009, these sources grew to a combined $45.96 million, or 17.4

percent of total revenue, to the General Fund and further increased in 2010 to $53.1 million or 19.9 percent of total revenue

as several non‐traditional capital grants were identified for the HealthLine and Trolley Operations.

In 2011, revenue from these sources decreased to $38.4 million, or 14.6 percent, as revenue from the Sales & Use Tax

improved and the State Funding Fuel Initiative expired. These revenues were decreased in 2012 to $21.9 million, or 8.6

percent of total revenue, as the grant reimbursements for the HealthLine and Trolley Operations expired and as the Sales

& Use Tax continued to improve. Additionally, in 2013, the Authority reduced preventive maintenance, to $12.2 million to

increase the funding for additional Capital Projects such as the S‐Curve and Airport Tunnel. Reimbursements for the three

Fund Budgets 66

new Trolley lines (C‐line, L‐Line, and Nine‐Twelve Line) were received through a CMAQ grant from 2013 through 2015.

Operating Assistance for Paratransit Operations from NOACA was received through 2015, but future funding has been

eliminated. The Access to Jobs program ended in 2014 with the new MAP21 program but receipts continued through March

of 2015. This program has been discontinued as funding was eliminated. Starting in 2016, a total of $5.1 million of

assistance has been eliminated from the budget.

For 2017 and the two out‐years (2018 and 2019), $22.1 million has been budgeted each year. This includes $20 million for

Preventive Maintenance reimbursements and $2.1 million for fuel tax reimbursements, reimbursed labor, and other

reimbursements. Other Revenues of $1.2 million includes contractor and hospitalization reimbursements, rent, salvage

sales, and claims receipts, among other miscellaneous receipts. The amounts received from these sources have fluctuated

over the years due to one‐time receipts settlements and miscellaneous reimbursements.

EXPENDITURES

Due to the great recession in 2008 and 2009, the Authority had to implement some drastic changes in 2010 and 2011 in

order to improve the financial outlook. The 2012 budget was approved providing stability to the fares, service levels, and

staffing. A 4.3 percent service increase was budgeted to alleviate overcrowding on the rail lines and some bus routes. As a

result, a net increase of 50 positions was included in the budget. Fuel costs have been controlled and stabilized through the

fuel‐hedging program and electricity costs were reduced through reconciliation and monitoring of all accounts. Figure 6

represents the General Fund Expenditures from 2014 through 2019, and the ending balances for each year.

Personnel services include salaries, overtime, and fringe benefits and are budgeted at $196.5 million, an increase of $7.9

million, or 4.2 percent, from 2016 projections. This includes the budgeted positions, wage increases for FOP and ATU, and

increases in health care and prescription benefit costs.

In 2014, a total of 46 positions were added to the Budget. Additional operators were added to address overcrowding and

increase efficiencies in the service plan. A new ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) Department was created,

eliminating the current IT (Information Technology) Department. These changes created six new positions, eliminated the

IT Director position, and moved four positions from other departments into ITS. An additional 8 positions were added to

the 2014 budget to address

efficiencies in Transit Police

and Fleet Management.

After much deliberation, it

was decided that the IT

Department would remain,

the ITS Department would

be created under the

Operations Division, and

three select positions would

be transferred from

Operations Division into

Information Technology.

The funding for Job

Access/Reverse Commute

(JARC) program, which

provides vanpool service for Welfare to Work initiatives, was eliminated in the Transportation Bill, MAP21, and no

alternative funding was created. The grant funds ran out in the first quarter of 2015. For 2016, 17.25 positions were added

to the Operating Budget, totaling 2,361.75 positions. This includes 12 operator positions to alleviate shortages due to long‐

term absences. Seven positions will be moving from Service Management into the new Intelligent Transportation Systems

Figure 24

Fund Budgets 67

Department (ITS). A Management Development Program (MDP) analyst position is eliminated, reducing the number of

MDP positions to 4. A Return to Work Coordinator part‐time position will be increased from 20 hours to 30 hours per week

to assist the EEO Manager. Two training instructors were added. An operating instructor was added to assist with the

increased training needs for Operators and a Power & Way Trainer was added to bring contracted training in‐house,

reducing the amount of outside training. A Material Handler/Stock Clerk was added due to increased needs to the

predictive maintenance program. Lastly, a Construction Engineer was added which will bring expertise in‐house, thus

reducing the need for outside contracted engineering services.

The FOP and ATU will be

negotiating new contracts in 2017.

A total of 30 positions are

eliminated from the budget in

2017. A 3 percent service reduction

is annualized in 2017 and 31

operator positions were removed.

On the Administrative side, a part‐

time position was created to

accommodate additional safety

audits. An Administrative

Assistant position was budgeted

for half year pending the State

decision regarding the Sales and

Use Tax base. This position will

only be filled if the State

authorizes a revenue neutral fix.

In 2017, diesel fuel costs are

expected to decrease to $7.7

million as additional new CNG

(compressed natural gas) buses

are received and used. The natural gas cost per diesel gallon equivalent is significantly lower than the cost of a gallon of

diesel fuel. ADA purchased transportation continues to rise as more customers are riding Paratransit. The bus districts and

central bus maintenance continue to implement predictive maintenance. Parts on the buses will be repaired or replaced

per manufacture suggested maintenance standards rather than when the part fails. This requires an increase in inventory

needs.

Transfers to other funds within the Authority place additional financial pressures on the General Fund. The transfer for

bond retirement has grown to cover increases in debt service payments. The estimated transfer to Bond Retirement Fund

for 2016 is $21.9 million. Three bond issuances will be completed in 2016, reducing the 2017 transfer to $19.3 million. A

loan will be paid off in 2017, which will decrease the transfers to $19.0 million in 2018 and $18.1 million in 2019.

The added contribution of 18.4 percent in 2014 was due to transfers of additional local funds needed for the multi‐year bus

replacement program and to meet the financial needs of the Authority’s capital programs. The contribution to capital held

steady at 18.5 percent in 2015 before declining in to 14.4 percent in 2016. The decline in contribution will continue at 15.0

percent in 2017, but increase to 15.5 percent in 2018 and 15.1 percent in 2019 as the decreases in Sales & Use Tax revenue

also impacts this measure. To maintain the proper balance in the Insurance and Pension Funds, transfers of $2.4 million

and $70,000, respectively, are budgeted in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, the Insurance Fund transfer needed is $2.3 million for

2018 and $2.5 million for 2019. The Pension Fund is projected to need transfers of $70,000 in both years.

FY 2014 2015 2016 2017

Positions 2,348.50 2,344.50 2,361.75 2,332.00

Net Increase

(Decrease)46 (4) 17 (30)

New ITS Department created adding 4

positions; 8 positions added between Transit

Police and Fleet Management; 34

Operations positions added to address overcrowding and address operating

efficiencies

Slight service reduction for bus (2.6% reduction)

and 4.7% service increase in Rail - 11

fewer operators needed; 5 temporary positions added for HRV Interior

Overhaul; 2 administrative positions

added.

12 Operator positions added to alleviate

challenges with long-term absences; 2

Assistant Transportation

Managers added; 2 Training Instructors; 1

Material Handler; 1 Administrative position

increased by 0.25

31 Operator positions removed due to 3% service reduction; added 1 part-time Safety Awareness

Coordinator; added 1 Administrative

Assistant position (budgeted half year and dependent upon State's decision of the Sales &

Use Tax base)

Service Increase

(Decrease)

5.5% Service Hours; 3.4% Service Miles

(0.7%) Service Hours; (2.3%) Service Miles



Route enhancements; alleviate overcrowding

on a few routes; increase frequency of

rail

2.6% Decrease in Bus Operations due to route

efficiencies; 4.7% Increase in Rail

Operations

Trolley L-Line discontinued; Service efficiencies in bus and

Rail Operations

3% Service Reduction annualized (began

September 2016); New Van Pool service

implemented

Employment Level and Service Level Changes

Figure 25

Fund Budgets 68

BOND RETIREMENT FUND

The Bond Retirement Fund accounts for resources set aside for the payment of principal and interest on debt obligations.

At the end of 2016, the Authority has six General Obligation (G.O.) Bond Issues outstanding and outstanding debt of $160.3

million. The policy of the Authority is to set aside resources transferred from the General Fund on a monthly basis to meet

the current year’s annual principal and semiannual interest payments.

In Figures 26 and 27, each year’s ending

balance represents at least one‐twelfth of

the subsequent year’s debt service

requirement, which is set‐aside on the last

day of each year. Thus, the ending balance

in this fund remains relatively low at all

times. In 2014, there was a refinancing

issue of $29.7 million and in 2015 new debt

was issued for $30.0 million.

Long‐term debt for the Authority includes

both debt and refunding debt sales from

2004 through 2015. These include a

combined $42.39 million issuance of

revenue bonds in FY 2012 for $25.0 million

of new debt and a $17.4 million refinancing issuance, a

$35.0 million issuance and $27.4 million refunding issuance in 2008, a 2006 debt sale of $38.5

million, and $67.2 million of debt issued in 2004. Required transfers from the General Fund to make these payments are

reduced by interest earned in the Bond Retirement Fund. In 2015, a transfer of $22.6 million was required from the General

Fund to cover the current overall debt service of the Authority. In 2016, a transfer of $21.9 million was needed. For 2017, a

transfer of $19.3 million will be needed as three debt issuances will be completed and a new debt issuance of $30 million is

budgeted. A transfer of $19.0 million will be needed in 2018 as another debt issuance will be completed. For 2019, a new

debt issuance of $25 million is planned and a transfer of $18.1 million will be needed to cover the debt service requirement.

Figure 26

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Actual Actual Estimate Budget Plan Plan

Beginning Balance $1.7 $1.8 $2.3 $2.1 $2.2 $2.2

Revenue ($0.4) $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Fund Transfers $20.5 $22.6 $21.9 $19.3 $19.0 $18.1

Total Revenue $20.1 $22.6 $21.9 $19.3 $19.0 $18.1

Total Resources $21.8 $24.4 $24.2 $21.4 $21.3 $20.2

Total Expenditures $20.0 $22.1 $22.1 $19.1 $19.1 $18.3

Ending Balance $1.8 $2.3 $2.1 $2.2 $2.2 $1.9

Figure 27

Fund Budgets 69

INSURANCE FUND

The Insurance Fund is used to account for resources, which have been reserved to protect the Authority against future

catastrophic or extraordinary losses, as the Authority is currently self‐insured in all areas except personal property and

equipment. In the late‐nineties, expenditures for the settlement of unusual or extraordinary claims as well as for insurance

premiums stressed this fund. Up through

1999, $5 million was required as the fund

minimum balance. From 2000 through 2003,

unexpected claim costs required an increase

in the balance to $7.5 million. In 2004, the

minimum balance was returned to the

original $5.0 million.

A portion of the self‐insurance fund was

liquidated and replaced with purchased

insurance coverage in 1999. According to the

Authority’s financial policies, the Risk

Manager, on an annual basis, determines the

minimum balance required in the Insurance

Fund.

In 2014 and 2015, transfers of $0.9 million and $1.5 million were made from the General Fund to the Insurance Fund. Lower

claims and premium payments helped to increase the ending balance to over $6.0 million. In 2016, a transfer of $0.5 million

was needed to cover insurance premiums and claims and bring the ending balance back toward $5.0 million. For 2017, a

transfer of $2.4 million is needed to cover costs and maintain the required ending balance. Transfers of $2.3 million and

$2.5 million will be needed in 2018 and 2019, respectively, to maintain the required minimum balance.



Investment Income $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0 $0.0

Transfers $0.9 $1.5 $0.5 $2.4 $2.3 $2.5

Total Revenue $0.9 $1.5 $0.5 $2.4 $2.3 $2.5

Total Resources $7.3 $7.7 $7.1 $7.8 $7.5 $7.5


Ending Balance $6.2 $6.6 $5.4 $5.2 $5.0 $5.0

Figure 28

Figure 29

Fund Budgets 70

SUPPLEMENTAL PENSION FUND

The Supplemental Pension Fund (Pension/Deferred Compensation Trust and Agency Fund) was established to account for

assets held by the Authority in a trustee capacity for payments of benefits relating primarily to certain retired employees

of the Authority and its predecessor transit systems. Since 1986, the Pension Fund also has been used to account for funds

on deposit with the Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Board. The Authority has no control over these funds,

but is required to account for them in a trust and agency fund according to governmental accounting standards.

An actuarial evaluation is performed

every two years to assess the adequacy of

the fund balance. This Budget increases

and maintains the fund balance at levels

recommended in the last actuarial

evaluation. Transfers of $75,000 will be

made from the General Fund to support

this effort in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but

these amounts may change with the

results of the next actuarial study.

Benefit payments from this fund between 2005 and 2009 have ranged from a low of nearly $88,000 in 2005 to a high of just

under $95,000 in the following year. In 2015, total payments of $68,037 were made. For 2016, payments of $70,500 are

projected. For 2017 through 2019, payments are budgeted at $70,500, $69,000, and $67,500, respectively. The ending

balance in the fund is projected to be stable over the next three years.

Figure 30



Total Revenue $0.1 $0.1 $0.1 $0.1 $0.1 $0.1

Total Resources $1.3 $1.3 $1.4 $1.4 $1.4 $1.4


Ending Balance $1.2 $1.3 $1.3 $1.3 $1.3 $1.4

Figure 31

Fund Budgets 71

LAW ENFORCEMENT FUND

In 1988, RTA became involved with the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force (NOLETF), a multi‐jurisdictional force

(formerly known as the Caribbean/ Gang Task Force). The Authority’s involvement was prompted by the increasing gang

activity found in and around the rail system and the need to obtain intelligence in this area. In addition to the benefits of

intelligence gathering and improved inter‐department relations, the GCRTA derives revenue from seized and confiscated

monies and/or properties of convicted drug dealers prosecuted by the Task Force.

Revenue obtained through the Task Force can be expended for non‐budgeted police items. The Authority primarily uses

these proceeds for unbudgeted capital

items. Furthermore, certain guidelines have

been instituted by the State Attorney

General’s Office for the reporting and

disbursement of funds. Expenditures within

this fund have varied over the years,

depending upon the levels of revenue

obtained through the Task Force. These

expenditures funded security items,

protective equipment, and technical

training equipment. The expenditures

projected in 2017 are from a special training

fund, which is not part of the NOLETF. The

only other activities expected in this fund in

FY 2017 are investment earnings of $60 and

other revenue of $55,000.

Figure 32



Total Revenue $0.1 $0.0 $0.1 $0.1 $0.1 $0.1

Total Resources $0.5 $0.3 $0.3 $0.3 $0.3 $0.4


Ending Balance $0.3 $0.3 $0.3 $0.3 $0.3 $0.4

Figure 33

Fund Budgets 72

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND

BALANCE ANALYSIS

The Authority’s Capital Improvement Fund is used to account for the acquisition, construction, replacement, repair, and

renovation of major capital facilities and equipment. The Capital Improvement Plan is composed of both grant‐funded

projects as well as 100 percent locally‐funded items.

All capital projects are included in one of

two funds: the RTA Development Fund

which includes all grant‐funded projects,

as well as the majority of the larger capital

projects for the Authority, including

rehabilitations, expansions and large

equipment purchases; and the RTA Capital

Fund, a smaller fund for more routine

expenditures that support daily

operational activities.

Generally, projects in the RTA

Development Fund are greater than

$150,000, have a useful life of greater than

five years, and are predominantly,

although not exclusively, supported

through grant awards. Projects from the

Authority’s Long Range Plan are included

in this area and it includes those capital projects where grant funding already has been approved or will be submitted for

approval in future years.

Capital projects included in the RTA Capital Fund are generally less than $150,000, have a useful life of less than 5 years, are

routine in nature, and in many cases relate directly to daily operations. Unlike the RTA Development Fund, where the

majority of projects are funded with grant awards, the RTA Capital Fund is financed entirely through local dollars in the

form of Sales & Use Tax revenue contributions.

Detailed discussions of the fund balances in these funds are presented in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) section. The

Figures 16 and 17 provide a consolidated look at all Capital Improvement Funds. The fund balance normally alternates years

of increases and decreases as planned activities are balanced with cash infusions. Overall, the balance has been generally

decreasing since 1990 with periodic increases a direct result of cash infusion from debt sales or from other irregular one‐

time revenue, such as a $15.0 million “Sale to Lease” transaction in 2002 or a $25.0 million Capital Lease transaction in

2007.

The fund balance decreased

in 2014, from $40.7 million to

$25.4 million as balances

were drawn for capital

activities then increased in

2015 due to a new debt sale.

The balance decrease to

$25.4 million in 2016 as

programmed construction

activities occur before increasing in 2017 as a result of planned debt service.

Figure 34



Total Revenue $76.3 $122.1 $72.2 $104.1 $77.7 $112.1

Total Resources $116.9 $147.5 $116.8 $129.5 $111.8 $123.5


Ending Balance $25.4 $44.6 $25.4 $34.1 $11.4 $20.1

Figure 35

Fund Budgets 73

The high level of capital activity by the Authority, begun in the 1990s which included the re‐construction of the Triskett

Garage, the HealthLine along Euclid Avenue, a mid‐life overhaul of the Authority’s Light and Heavy Rail Fleets, as well as

the reconstruction of multiple Rail Stations, and maintenance of the Authority’s infrastructure has continued in following

CIP’s. Capital funds set aside for these large projects were drawn against, as part of a planned drawdown of the fund

balance.

Beginning with the 2008 Budget Year, the capital budget process was more directly focused on the need to balance the

Authority’s ambitious capital program with available grant funds and to minimize, wherever possible, the use of local funds.

This step has resulted in the development of a CIP with projects closely scheduled with expected Federal Fiscal Year (FFY)

grant award funds and anticipated revenue streams, with few new projects being added, and some projects deferred into

future years of the CIP. At the same time, the Authority has committed its financial resources to complete its ADA Key

Station program and is now in an on‐going multi‐year bus replacement program.

In 2017, the Capital Budget appropriation request totals $64.1 million for the acquisition of buses, preventive maintenance

and operating expense reimbursements, equipment, services, and construction projects to improve, replace or upgrade the

Authority’s facilities and infrastructure. The Authority’s infrastructure needs though continue to exceed the amount of

available grant funds especially now with the negative impact of the current MAP‐21 legislation. The FAST (Fixing

America’s Surface Transportation) Act is expected to increase the formula funding apportionments for the Authority, but

not enough to end the on‐going deferral of some requested projects due to lack of grant funds or the use of local funds for

their completion.

Proceeds from debt sales, as well as from sales tax contributions, are used to fulfill the Local Match requirement on grant‐

funded projects as well as for 100 percent locally‐funded projects. In 2017, the Transfer to Capital from the General Fund is

budgeted at $13.3 million. It will slightly increase to $13.5 million in 2018 and to 14.3 million in 2019. The Authority has

redoubled its efforts to securing additional non‐traditional federal and state resources as the upcoming impact of the new

FAST legislation is being analyzed and has becoming more creative with the use of debt and other financing as it strives to

address the backlog of needed SGR projects.

REVENUES

The Authority receives various capital grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Funds are requested from

FTA, as needed, to meet obligations, via wire transfer. The timing of the receipt of federal capital revenue is directly related

to costs invoiced by contractors/vendors, since these funds must be disbursed within three days after receipt. FTA grants

normally cover 80 percent of project costs with the remaining 20 percent share being absorbed by the Authority’s local

match revenue, which consists of interest income, transfers from other funds and sales of bonds and notes. In some cases

FTA grants, such as the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and from the Transportation Investment

Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program are awarded with a 100 percent Federal share. State capital assistance

has in the past been seen in the form of State capital grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and loans

from the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB).

The RTA Capital Fund was established in 1988 and funded with Sales & Use Tax proceeds as part of the Authority’s goal of

a minimum of 10 and maximum 15 percent contribution to capital requirement as described under General Fund Revenue.

Interest earned on the investment of those Sales & Use Tax proceeds is the only other income credited to the RTA Capital

Fund. The Authority’s local contribution to its capital program is captured by Transfers within the Operating Budget to the

RTA Capital Fund and the Transfer to the Bond Retirement Fund.

Transfers of General Fund revenue to the RTA Capital Fund have grown significantly in recent years to meet the financial

needs of an aggressive capital program – from a low of $6.8 million in FY 2007 to a high of $15.5 million in 2015. Increases

in this transfer in recent years has been to align the local funding component of the Authority’s five‐year bus replacement

schedule along with the large number of state of good repair capital projects into the correct capital fund.

Fund Budgets 74

The FY 2016 Capital Transfer from the General Fund will decrease to $9.5 million to meet the needs of the capital program

in the upcoming year. This amount, when combined with an expected $21.9 million transfer to the Bond Retirement Fund

will produce a total contribution of Sales & Use Tax revenue to capital of $31.4 million, or 14.4 percent of all Sales & Use Tax

Revenue, just below the Authority’s maximum target goal of 15%.

Transfers to Capital and Bond Retirement Funds to meet current debt needs of the Authority are expected to slightly

increase in FY 2017 to $32.6 million, 15 percent of the Sales & Use Tax receipts. The transfer is planned at $32.5 million in

2018 and $32.4 million in 2019 as some of the Authority’s debt is retired, though this amount will, in part, depend upon

future debt service needs of the Authority and how the new debt service payments are structured. When combined with

the Transfer to Capital in those years, 15.5 percent and 15.1 percent of all Sales & Use Tax revenue will be directed towards

the Authority’s capital program, which is above the maximum goal of 15.0 percent in the out‐years. The increase in

contribution to capital is due to the removal of the Medicaid Managed Health Care from the tax base and subsequent

reduction in Sales Tax receipts for those years.

This continues to highlight the on‐going problem of meeting the daily operating needs of the Authority while, at the same

time, maintaining or improving the Authority’s assets in a state of good repair as well. Meeting the financial needs of both

areas in the future will significantly challenge the overall financial stability of the Authority, particularly in light of the

current economic situation and the slow future growth projected in revenue from the Sales & Use Tax.

Performance Management 75

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN

The Strategic Plan identifies and prioritizes GCRTA’s goals and

objectives as can be accomplished on a five year timeline to meet

RTA’s ten year vision. Management and implementation of the

Strategic Plan assures GCRTA experiences success by seizing

opportunities, leveraging advantages, and swiftly mitigating

challenges within and beyond GCRTA’s boundaries of control.

STRATEGIC ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS

GCRTA refines its long‐term strategic direction through a

visionary process of developing strategic objectives. As a result,

four (4) Balanced Scorecard categories, nine (9) Vital Few

Objectives (VFOs), and ten (10) Change Initiatives (CIs) were

identified and outlined for implementation, visualized through a

Strategy Map to create the GCRTA Leadership System. GCRTA

is committed to its Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV), which is

supported via programs like Together Everyone Achieves More

(TEAM), TransitStat, Problem Identification & Corrective Action

(PICA), and The Partnership for Excellence (TPE) using the

Criteria for Performance Excellence. TEAM and PICA have been

in place, mainly with the Operations Division, for over ten years, TransitStat deployed more than eight years, and TPE in

place for the last four years. GCRTA’s Leadership System consists of a Balanced Score Card (BSC) and Strategy Map. These

are tools supporting Steps 2 through 4 in the Strategic Planning Process. The BSC is evidence of Planning and Aligning

objectives throughout the organization to attain the MVV. The Strategy Map measures progress and success as the strategic

plan is implemented and CIs are accomplished. The BSC defines four priority areas of strategic management for GCRTA.

Figure X outlines these four strategic areas and they’re defined purpose. These definitions serve as the basis of development

of Vital Few Objectives.

The Strategy Map, outlined in

Figure X, visualizes the

alignment of the Balanced

Scorecard and the Mission,

Vision & Values of GCRTA.

Included are the Scorecard

Measures, Change Initiatives

and Action Plans that are

monitored and reported

monthly and quarterly. These

are linked with the Vital Few

Objectives, categorized by

relevance to BSC Area and

relevance to GCRTA’s Vision

Statements. In addition, the

TEAM Goals have been integrated into the Leadership System through the Scorecard Measures. The integration takes into

Figure 36

Balanced Scorecard Strategic Plan Performance 2016-18

Area of Focus Initiatives Performance RateFiscal Responsibility 1. Incr Rev/Decr Exp 2.33

2. Enhance Fisc Resp 2.67Voice of Customer 3. Expand Advocacy 3.50

4. Enhance Customer Experience 2.825. Increase Service Efficiency 2.75

Continual Process Improvement 6. Achieve State of Good Repair 2.007. Advance & Improve Technology 4.00

Learning & Innovation 8. Achieve Safety Sulture 3.509. Improve Employee Development 2.80

Overall Performance Rating 2.93

Figure 37


account the applicable Vital Few Objective and the Balanced Scorecard area of focus. This alignment ensures correlation

between metrics or progress firmly connected to GCRTA’s 10‐Year Vision of success.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

GCRTA’s Financial Vision encompasses growth in operating revenue and capital funding, as well as maintaining operating

expenses. Another focus is on improvement of internal financial controls and systems.

This category includes the following Vital Few Objectives (VFOs):

Increase Revenue / Decrease Expenses

Enhance Fiscal Responsibility

INCREASE REVENUE / DECREASE EXPENSES & ENHANCE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

General Fund Revenue performance is made successful through

management of Passenger Fares, Sales & Use Tax, and Reimbursed

Expenditures. Sales & Use Tax and Passenger Fare Revenue account for

over 90.2 percent of the Authority’s General Fund revenue, of which, Sales

& Use Tax provide for nearly 75 percent of total revenues in 2017, and are

vital to establishing the operating levels of the Authority. Passenger Fares

account for 16.2 percent of total revenues in 2017 and are the core

implication of changes in our services.

The growth rate is determined by the performance of the

Sales & Use Tax and System‐wide Ridership. These critical factors are volatile and require short and mid‐term strategies to

grow and sustain RTA’s key revenue sources. For 2017, the

growth rate is projected at 0.1 percent, mainly due to Sales &

Use Tax projections. The FTA mandated that Medicaid

Managed Health Care be removed from the Sales & Use Tax

base. This will lower Sales & Use Tax receipts by about $4.5

million in the 4th Quarter 2017. Passenger Fare revenue is

projected to grow slightly as the fare increase executed in the

3rd Quarter 2016 is annualized in 2017.

The growth rate for 2018 is projected at ‐2.1 percent as the first

three quarters of 2018 will see a reduction due to the removal of

the Medicaid Managed Health Care from the tax base. For 2019,

a slower growth rate, at 2.5 percent is planned.

Scorecard Metric Performance Target

Operating Revenue ≥ 1%

Capital Revenue ≥$30 M

Total Expenses ≤2.5%

Total Overtime ≤7%of Salaries & Wages

Figure 38

Figure 39

-

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019

Debt Service Performance and Schedule

Principal Interest

Figure 41

-3.00%

-2.00%

-1.00%

0.00%

1.00%

2.00%

3.00%

$55.00

$60.00

$65.00

$70.00

$75.00

$80.00

Q12017

Q22017

Q32017

Q42017

Q12018

Q22018

Q32018

Q42018

Q12019

Q22019

Q32019

Q42019

Revenue Growth per Quarter(Top 3 Revenue Streams)

Forecast Target

Figure 40


One category of performance indicators is Capital Efficiency performance, which includes metrics for Debt Service and funds

allocated to capital maintenance or expansion. To support infrastructural investments driven by operational needs and

ability to provide quality service, it is crucial to balance debts, assure creditors and identify and prioritize the impact of

organizational expenses. Key capital efficiency performance indicators are outlined focusing on Debt Service and

Investments in Maintenance vs. Expansion from Operating Revenue sources.

A financial policy goal is to contribute between 10 to 15

percent of Sales & Use Tax revenue to Capital. This

indicator includes both direct contributions of Capital

and the amount set‐aside in the General Fund for debt

service. The financial contributions to the capital

programs support 100 percent locally‐funded capital

projects, provide the local match for projects funded by

grants, and funds the Authority’s debt service

requirements. The contribution to capital held steady at

18.5 percent in 2015 and is projected to decline to 14.4

percent in 2016. This decline is projected to remain

steady, near the 15 percent maximum, for 2017 through

2019.

Cost per Hour of Service is measured against the rate of

inflation to best inform allocation and use of human and

financial resources. This means monitoring and managing

the growth in cost to provide public transit services to

RTA’s service area.

Controlling expenses has a major impact on RTA’s ability

to establish a sustainable budget. To increase

accountability and process improvements, RTA uses

TransitStat. This program is a core driver of maintaining

the Authority’s expenses and investments. To ensure RTA

is able to balance the General Fund, process improvement

are also optimized to identify new revenue sources or

improve use of resources by reducing waste and rework. TransitStat will be explained in more detail later in this section.

For 2017, the Budget was reduced by 7.8 percent, compared to the 2016 Budget. The VFO for Maintaining Expenses is

projected to be met for FY 2018 and FY 2019, as the Budgets are planned to increase by 1.26 percent and 1.00 percent,

respectively.

0.00%

2.00%4.00%

6.00%

8.00%10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%18.00%

20.00%

$-

$5.00

$10.00

$15.00

$20.00

$25.00

$30.00

$35.00

$40.00

$45.00

FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 2017Budget

FY 2018 Plan FY 2019 Plan

Sales Tax Contribution to Capital

Contribution % Contribution

Figure 42

-6.0%-4.0%-2.0%0.0%2.0%

4.0%6.0%8.0%10.0%12.0%14.0%

$-

$25.00

$50.00

$75.00

$100.00

$125.00

$150.00

$175.00

FY 2015 FY 2016* FY 2017Budget

FY 2018Plan*

FY 2019 Plan

Cost per Hour of Service

Cost per Hour of Service Growth per Year

Figure 43

$-

$50.00

$100.00

$150.00

$200.00

$250.00

$300.00



Operating Expenses by Category

Personnel Services Materials & Supplies

Fuel / Utilities Liabilities & Damages Purchased Transportation

Other Expenses

Figure 44

$-

$50.00

$100.00

$150.00

$200.00

$250.00

$300.00



Operating Expenses by Division

Operations Finance & Admin Engineering & Proj. Mgmt

Legal Affairs Human Resources Executive

Figure 45


VOICE OF CUSTOMER

Voice of Customer emphasizes key strategies to managing advocacy and improving public transit in Northeast Ohio, as well

as enhancing numerous aspects of customer experience on our system.


Expand Advocacy

Enhance Customer Experience

EXPAND ADVOCACY

Advocacy as the Key Driver to Managing Growth: Financial Security, Steady

Ridership, and Public Transportation Advocates. The Advocacy strategy

focuses on educating constituents, decision makers, and community groups

about the value of public transportation in order to gain ridership support,

financial aid, and better connect RTA to the community it serves. The full

list of contacts is over 320, and growing, with a variety of those being in an

influential or decision‐making capacity that impacts funding strategies for

public transportation in the region, state, and nation. RTA leverages members of the Board of Trustees, Citizens’ Advisory

Group, ATU, and various community groups to support funding for public transit infrastructure to benefit RTA.

The General Manager maintains a list of over 320 contacts, which includes members of political leadership at local, state,

and federal levels, civic leaders, business leaders, advocates, and members of the Citizens’ Advisory Board. A majority of

the contacts made are with external parties regarding Advocacy and Funding. Advocacy outreach includes the media,

lobbyists, mayors, and state representatives receiving information about the benefits of public transportation. The message

on funding needs are focused more toward State Senators, planning organizations, and business partners in the region.

The goal of Advocacy is to educate key stakeholder groups of the benefits of public transit. As a result, for RTA, this

empowers various groups to advocate for and decide on funding availability to provide quality services. RTA established a

list of contacts, with the target of meeting with 25 per quarter. The Authority has met or exceeded this target regularly,

meeting with State reps, transit advocacy groups, or community leaders.

Advocacy outreach opportunities for 2016 include:

RTA was recognized as a critical regional asset that was significant to the site selection for the Republican National Convention (RNC)

o Provided outstanding service to over 50,000 national delegates, 15,000 visiting media, and the community o Coordinated with the City of Cleveland to complete public art installations (Inter‐urban) along the Red Line

from the Airport to Downtown and beyond o Facilitated receipt of ODOT’s $6 million grant for 12 new Trolley Buses that were ordered, delivered, and

scheduled into service in time for the RNC o Completed the total replacement of 4 escalators in Tower City prior to the RNC

Worked with major influencers to promote increased funding for RTA and address funding challenges related to the Medicaid Managed Health Care Sales Tax issue

Held successful advocacy event for National Infrastructure Week, highlighting the need for additional investments in our rail infrastructure

Worked with GCP and NOACA to highlight need for greater transit funding as a major component of their legislative agendas

Established a working relationship with Clevelanders for Public Transit, meeting quarterly, to assist in advocacy efforts

Received 2 FTA demonstration grants to enhance pedestrian safety

Published Roadway Worker Protection Manual

Recorded 27 percent decrease in rail incidents

Successfully led ODOT State Safety Oversight training for rail


Advocacy Meetings 156 Meetings

Speaker’s Bureau Members ≥ 12 Members

Figure 46


ENHANCE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Ridership is measured by Unlinked Passenger Trips, which is reported in the

National Transit Database (NTD). Tracking ridership by mode informs RTA

of the potential impact of customer behaviors on Fare Revenues. Bus is the

largest contributor of trips, evidenced as the core of RTA’s service offerings.

Heavy Rail (Red Line) serves the next largest amount of riders, followed by

the HealthLine. The HealthLine has been a thoroughfare of economic

development and operates along Euclid Avenue, a major corridor for the

Greater Cleveland area, from downtown, past Cleveland Clinic, through

University Circle, and into East Cleveland.

From 2013 through 2015, service was added to alleviate

crowding on the most popular routes and enhance service in other areas. The customer satisfaction survey was being

conducted the same month that public meetings were being held regarding a potential fare increase and service reductions.

These meetings had a negative impact on the overall customer satisfaction. In August 2016, a 25‐cent fare increase took

effect and in September, a 3 percent annualized service reduction was implemented, which reduced, re‐aligned, or

eliminated the least populated routes, most of which had alternative service available within 0.5 miles.

RTA values feedback from its customers, as it

informs key steps in designing and delivering

service. Understanding the demographics of our

ridership, and how they are engaged with our

services is best informed through our ABBG

(American Bus Benchmarking) survey results.

Over 70 percent of our riders are using transit for

work related commuting, about 10 percent are

students, and less than 10 percent ride for

leisure. Customer prioritize availability, time

and security of service above all else. Our 2015

Net Promoter Score (NPS) for riders improved

by 8 percent over 2014. In 2016, due to the

implemented service reduction, customer satisfaction for bus service decreased significantly. The survey was conducted for

a period of one month during which public meetings were being held for a potential fare increase and service reduction.

These public meetings had a detrimental impact on all survey indicators.


Ridership ≥ 46 Million

On-Time Performance ≥ 75%

Overall Customer Satis-faction

≥ 80%

Action Plan Progress 100%

Ride Happy or Ride Free 1 per 30,000 riders

Figure 47

-14.00%

-12.00%

-10.00%

-8.00%

-6.00%

-4.00%

-2.00%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016 Q4 2016

Ridership by Mode per Quarter(in Millions)

Bus HealthLine Heavy Rail Light Rail Paratransit % Difference by Quarter

Figure 48

-6.00%

-4.00%

-2.00%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

-

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2019 Q2 2019 Q3 2019 Q4 2019

Projected Ridership by Mode per Quarter (in Millions)

Bus HealthLine Heavy Rail Light Rail Paratransit % Difference by Quarter

Figure 49

Figure 50


The customer satisfaction rating informs a variety of

aspects on how RTA delivers quality transit services.

Such aspects include cleanliness, safety, operator

behavior and reliability and timeliness of the service.

Monitoring rates of Customer Engagement is equally

important as it gives reason to what drives customer

loyalty, or a NPS rating. Measuring engagement means

understanding what makes riders use the system

frequently, safely, confidently, and how they advocate

and encourage others to use our system (or possibly even

public transit in general).

In 2016, the American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG)

conducted the 4th annual Customer Satisfaction Survey

for all bus customers, including transit agency employees. RTA and 19 other like‐sized transit agencies measure customer

satisfaction with bus service. This opportunity provides RTA with a measure of customer service, identifies areas of

improvement, and allows the agency to be compared to the performance of other agencies.

Customer Satisfaction is key to RTA’s mission: To Provide Safe, Reliable, Clean, and Courteous Public Transportation.

Results from the Customer Satisfaction Surveys have helped to identify areas of improvement in safety and cleanliness.

Figure 51

13%67%

9%74%

9%74%

16%62%

0%

50%

100%

% Dissatisfaction (1‐2) % Satisfaction (4‐5)

The bus is well driven

2013 2014 2015 2016

Figure 52

30% 52%23%64%

24%60%

37% 41%0%

50%

100%


The bus usually runs on time

2013 2014 2015 2016

Figure 53

53% 26%39% 38%31% 45%42% 33%0%

50%

100%


The bus is clean

2013 2014 2015 2016

Figure 54

50%24%40% 35%40% 35%

51%28%

0%

50%

100%


It is easy to find out if the buses are running on schedule

2013 2014 2015 2016

Figure 55


CONTINUAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

Continual process improvements establish meaningful standards for current processes and eliminate waste through

innovative process improvements across RTA.


Champion Sustainability

Increase Service Efficiency

Achieve State of Good Repair (SOGR)

Advance & Improve Technology

Improve Paratransit Service Efficiency

CHAMPION SUSTAINABILITY

GCRTA’s strategic priorities are set in a 10‐year vision

addressing continual process improvements and investments

in our infrastructure, developing our workforce, and ensuring

our public transit system is safe. The Authority continued the

Public Transit Management Academy (PTMA), added a

collection of Six Sigma Green Belt projects, earned the Silver

Award from the Partnership for Excellence, recognized in

Northeast Ohio as one of the “50 Smartest Organizations”,

and updated our Mission, Vision, and Values during the 2016

Strategic Planning session. The Sustainability Strategy

supports our continual improvement initiatives that meet and

exceed our Mission, Vision and Values.

The Sustainability Program monitors a variety of material

issues defining our performance as a socially and

environmentally conscious member of the Greater Cleveland

community. This includes items such as Public Safety, System

Reliability, Responsible Fiscal Management, investments in

Alternative Fuels and Energy Efficiency, and Rate of

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. At the end of 2015, RTA obtained

ISO 14001 ESMS Certification for the Central Bus Maintenance Facility (CBMF) and received updated requirements to move

forward with the certification process for Hayden and

Triskett Districts. The Program Manager uses a variety of

tools from the World Resource Institute, World Business

Council for Sustainable Development, Environmental

Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, APTA

Sustainability, Global Reporting Initiative, and many other

sources.

The Authority is helping to reduce mobile emissions by

purchasing alternatively‐fueled vehicles. Of the 24 BRT

vehicles, 21 are hybrid‐electric vehicles on the HealthLine.

RTA incorporated 90 new CNG vehicles with additional buses

on order for the next several years. Natural Gas prices cost

1/3 of diesel, resulting in savings of more than $200,000 for

the life of each vehicle. RTA’s CNG fleet will emit 30 percent

Summary

You have achieved 4 of 4 prerequisites

You have achieved 2% improvement in 2 indicators

5% improvement in 1 indicators

10% improvement in 5 indicators

You have achieved 10 action items

3 stretch goals

Comments:

This page provides an overview of progress towards achieving

the goals of the Sustainability Commitment and higher

Baseline data is a complete calendar year. The follow-up data is January through August or September, including the normalization factors. An update shall be provided in April 2017 with the full Calendar Year data. Very few of the items have a projection methodology.

APTA Sustainability Commitment - Silver

Figure 56

-21.00%

-18.00%

-15.00%

-12.00%

-9.00%

-6.00%

-3.00%

0.00%

$-

$2.00

$4.00

$6.00

$8.00

$10.00

$12.00

$14.00

2015 Actual 2016 Est. 2017 Budget 2018 Plan 2019 Plan

Fuel Expenditures by Fuel Type(in Millions)

Diesel Fuel Compressed Natural Gas Propane Fuel

Gasoline % Change

Figure 57


fewer greenhouses. RTA is also testing Propane vehicles in the Paratransit fleet. The 20 vehicles are expected to save money

and reduce pollutants. RTA also uses all‐electric trains on the Red, Blue, and Green lines across 35 miles of track, serving

nearly 10 million customers each year.

INCREASE SERVICE EFFICIENCY

RTA’s Service Plan seeks to balance available funds with the public’s

demand for transit service. Service Management defines feasible

miles and hours of service based upon available human and financial

resources. The Districts, with support from Fleet Management and

Service Quality, implement the services as planned. RTA measures

performance of design and delivery of service with a variety of

operationally‐focused metrics, such as On‐Time Performance,

Tows, Service Capacity, and rates of preventive maintenance

for key assets; Facilities, Vehicles, and Equipment, such as fare

boxes.

Other Operational indicators include Miles Between Service

Interruptions (MBSI), Preventive Maintenance (PM)

Compliance, and the Rate of completing Action Plans. Action

Plans include implementation of Predictive Maintenance

Program for Hayden, Triskett, Fleet Management, and

Electronic Repair, which includes establishment of a 3‐year

budget program to meet program objectives. An effective

Predictive Maintenance program will increase the Miles

Between Service Interruptions and impact the State of Good

Repair rating for fleet, equipment, and infrastructure.

The aim of the Predictive Maintenance Program is to predict

when equipment will fail, before it fails. In 2015, RTA started

the Predictive Maintenance Program by repairing or replacing

selected equipment before they fail the first time.

Maintenance tasks are planned, based upon diagnostic

analysis, current conditions of the equipment, trends

analysis of usage, manufacturer’s suggested maintenance

times, or forecasting the remaining life of the equipment. In

2016, the Hayden District and Fleet Management District

started overhauling the HealthLine vehicles, most of which

were placed into service in 2008. The key measurement for

the Predictive Maintenance Program is Miles Between

Service Interruptions, or MBSI.


Avg Cost Paratransit Trip ≤ $40

TEAM: MBSI ≥ 10,000 Miles

Prev Maint Compliance ≥ 85%

Action Plan Progress ≥ 85%

Figure 59

Figure 60

Figure 61

-20.00%

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

120.00%

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015* 2016

Miles Between Service Interruptions

MBSI % Change

Target

Figure 62


ACHIEVE STATE OF GOOD REPAIR

In the public transit industry, asset management and State of Good

Repair (SOGR) strategies are vital. GCRTA must improve the ability to

assess a SOGR rating and understand how to prioritize assets to properly

invest grant funding in necessary infrastructure.

To accomplish a complete inventory with a meaningful SOGR rating,

GCRTA must complete Action Plans regarding Standard Assessment of

SOGR by dollar value, establish a strategy to financially prioritize

projects and maintenance with a SOGR rating of 2.5 or less, and define the SOGR ratio as a factor to update the 5‐year capital

plan.

In 2014, RTA began implementing a process to assign all assets a SOGR rating, ranging from 1 to 5. Asset Configuration and

Management planners compiled an inventory of assets and assigned each one a SOGR rating based upon their condition.

These ratings will be used to help prioritize the allocation of funds for the Capital Improvement Program.

The VFO metric requires an annual improvement to the baseline GCRTA SOGR rating, which is the aggregate of all asset

ratings. The Asset & Configuration Management Department finalized the baseline SOGR rating for the entire Authority.

ADVANCE & IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY

RTA’s Information Technology (IT) environment encompasses many tools

and resources to support the administrative and operating departments in

their daily obligations. IT has identified and prioritized a variety of

initiatives to further

enhance capabilities

of the workforce, and

build reliable

processes that support those capabilities in a sustainable manner. This

includes a focus on a refined 3‐year Strategic Plan and governance

structure, as well as updating the phone system, data center, and

network redundancy. IT provided GroupWise email access to the entire

workforce in 2016.


SGR Rating ≥ 2.5


Figure 63

0.78 1

1.28

1.63

1.16

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

Asset Age Asset Condition Asset Performance Level of

Maintenance

SGR Score

Rail Car SOGR Ratings

Double End HRV Average Single End HRV Average LRV Average Rail Fleet Average

Figure 64

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Average SOGR Rating

Figure 65


IT SGR Rating ≥ 15%


Figure 66

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Governance &Structure

Groupwise Authority-wide

3-Year Strategic Plan

Phone SystemNetwork

Replacement

Data Center

IT ServiceManagement

IT Initiatives: Rate of Completion

Figure 67


As with other assets and infrastructure, the IT Department is focused on maintaining a reliable information systems

infrastructure, replacing necessary assets and components as dictated by various asset lifecycles. To monitor improvement,

the percentage change is the indicator with a performance target of 15 percent improvement across all systems and projects.

This rate of IT‐SOGR improvement includes completion of various Action Plans including the completion and reporting of

Dashboard Metrics, Phone System Upgrade, Network Upgrade, Data Center Improvements, Back‐up/Storage Replacement,

IVR, CitrixFarm, Mobile Ticketing, and various End‐User priorities.

IMPROVE PARATRANSIT SERVICE EFFICIENCY

RTA has analyzed several efficiency aspects of Paratransit’s operation (ADA

Demand Service). Much of the focus includes the ADA application and

approval process, functional testing, and revisions to the fare structure. The

VFO metric is

Average Paratransit

Cost per Trip, with a

goal of $40 per trip.

As an indicator of

operating

efficiency, GCRTA monitors the Average Cost per Trip taken on its

Paratransit service. This strategic objective correlates with the

Fiscal Responsibility initiative regarding Medicaid

Reimbursement Program. The success of that program has an

impact on our operating efficiency and ability to deliver quality

Paratransit Service.

LEARNING & INNOVATION

It is imperative to invest in the development of RTA’s valued workforce to grow engagement, capabilities, and improve

productivity of workforce members to continue providing safe, quality transit services.


Achieve Safety Culture

Improve Employee Engagement

Improve Performance Management

ACHIEVE SAFETY CULTURE

Safety is embedded in the organizational culture through the Mission, Vision, and

Values of RTA. Safety is a critical element of every RTA employee’s function in

ultimately delivering quality public transit services. There are numerous

performance measures that inform upon the Authority’s impact on workplace and

public safety and security. Within the boundaries of control, safety is measured by

Preventable Collisions, On‐the‐Job‐Injuries, successfully completed Safety Drills,

and improved driver behaviors as monitored through DriveCam Risk Report Cards.

In addition to managing the aforementioned metrics, it is also of importance to

complete process improvement projects through Action Plan progress. Safety‐

focused Action Plans include improved safety of customers and employees,

compliance of external audits, conducting Culture Change Sessions with Leadership


Avg Cost Paratransit Trip ≤ $40

TEAM: MBSI ≥ 10,000 Miles

Prev Maint Compliance ≥ 85%

Action Plan Progress ≥ 85%

Figure 68

$53.97

$62.12 $60.37 $57.10 $58.05

$65.11

$23.85 $24.83 $26.01 $23.46 $22.93

$25.45

$-

$10.00

$20.00

$30.00

$40.00

$50.00

$60.00

$70.00

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Cost per Passenger Trip

In House Contracted

Figure 69


Preventable Collisions 1 per 100,000 Miles

OJIs 10 per 200,000 Hours

Completed Safety Drills 3

DriveCam: Incident Frequency ≤ 19%

DriveCam: Incident Severity ≤ 19%

DriveCam: Rule Viola-tion Risk ≤ 19%


Figure 70


and various segments of the organization, and maintaining at least two TSSP Certified Individuals in the Safety Department

Team.

The Preventable Collision Rate is an indicator of Operator Behavior. The Authority also draws upon data from the DriveCam

system. The On‐the‐Job Injury Rates inform Management of safety decisions and behaviors that may lead to increased risk

and cost in the workplace. The Authority also recognizes Champions of Safety on a monthly basis. These employees go

above and beyond the normal work duties to ensure that the infrastructure, facilities, vehicles, employees, and customers

are safe.

To help increase security for the Operators, Transit

Police Officers are now stationed at the Districts. RTA began the new Community Policing initiative in August 2015 and it

has proven to be very successful. The goal is to increase and improve visibility and communication between the Operators

and Transit Police. A Community Resource Officer is to assist, listen to concerns from Operators and other employees, and

try to get issues resolved. The Officers report directly to and from the Districts and have the welfare of the Operators and

employees. Since the inception, hundreds of issues have been successfully resolved.

IMPROVE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

RTA has implemented a variety of programs as a commitment to developing

a talented and engaged workforce. These programs include Tuition

Reimbursement, various skill‐focused training opportunities, the

Management Development Program (MDP), Greenbelt Six Sigma training,

and the Public Transit Management Academy (PTMA). RTA conducted its

first Employee Satisfaction Survey in January 2015 and again in January

2016. The results identify opportunities for improvement to help the

Authority fulfill its mission to become an employer of choice in Northeast

Ohio.

Based upon feedback from 2015, the Authority has increased

communication within all work segments and between all Departments

through The Reporter, a monthly update about what is happening at RTA;

GM Updates, bi‐monthly updates from the CEO about additional

information and highlights about upcoming events posted at all Districts;

and adjustments to TEAM forums.

A total of 374 employees participated in the 2016 Employee Engagement Survey. The following are the highlights from each

of the statement areas.

Hayden District

Figure 71

-15.00%

-10.00%

-5.00%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

On-the-Job Injury Rate(per 100,000 hours)

OJI Rate % Change

Figure 72


Attendance ≤ 5%

Employee Engagement ≥ 75%

Performance Manage-ment Rating ≥ 3.5

On-Time Appraisals Completed

≥ 80%

Total Hours of Training by Work Segment

?

Courses Completed by Work Segment

?


Figure 73


Leadership & Planning: Leadership core values, feedback and long‐term strategy o 53% agreed the leadership and planning of the Authority was positive o 65% understood the long‐term strategy o 33% wanted to see more planning and Directors open to more feedback

Corporate Culture & Communications: Communication, understanding, trust, diversity, safety, changes and cooperation

o 58% agreed the agency and communications were positive o 82% liked their co‐workers o 41% questioned adequate staffing levels

Role Satisfaction: Job security, deadlines, and teamwork o 73% agreed their roles and jobs were positive o 91% liked the work they do o 26% do not feel like a part of a team

Work Environment: safety and workplace issues o 71% agreed the workplace was positive o 76% felt safe o 21% thought heating and cooling could be improved

Relationship with Supervisor: Fairness, respect, recognition, other issues o 73% agreed relationship with supervisor was positive o 81% agreed that their supervisor treats them with respect o 23% said their supervisor does not help them develop to their full potential

The next Employee Engagement Survey is scheduled for January 2017.

IMPROVE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

RTA continues its strong focus on continuous improvement through The Partnership for Excellence (TPE) and TransitStat.

In 2015, RTA received the Silver Award from The Partnership for Excellence as part of the pursuit toward the Baldrige Award.

In June 2015, the Authority received a report from TPE that outlined 40 Opportunities for Improvement (OFI). Committees

were established to work on the following areas:

Human Resources: Improve processes for employee engagement, policies and practices, and performance evaluations

IT: Upgrade data center and IT infrastructure to improve speed of data security

Marketing: Continue customer satisfaction surveys for key market segments. Establish customer engagement metrics

OMB: Establish a database to research and investigate best practices. Refine the strategic planning process

Operations: Increase the number of drills to hone emergency response

Procurement: Evaluate suppliers

The Authority focused attention on improving the OFIs identified above, as well as continued improvements through the

Strategic Plan. A second application for The Partnership for Excellence was submitted and RTA is seeking the Gold Award

for the Baldrige initiative.

As part of the continual improvement quest, the Authority completed the 2016‐2018 Strategic Planning cycle and

maintained ISO 14001 certification for the Central Bus Maintenance facility. RTA achieved nearly 45 percent ISO 14001

certification at both Triskett and Hayden Districts to meet the 2015 requirements. In 2016, RTA completed the first Annual

Sustainability Report per Global Reporting Initiative G4 Core Standard Guidelines.

GCRTA maintains a performance management and improvement culture through TransitStat. Data is analyzed for problem

identification, resulting in aptly developed solutions authorized by the TransitStat Panel. Follow‐up is relentless: results are

tracked until the problem is solved. Over the course of TransitStat’s implementation, 2007, RTA recognized over $78.1


million in cost avoidance and savings, and reduced process

waste through quality program improvements over the

course of 9 years.

TransitStat has reduced costs and enhanced operational

capabilities. Accountability has increased markedly,

improving acceptance of a change management culture

across the organization. TransitStat continually saturates the

organizational culture; expanding from a financial focus to a

systematic program for quality enhancements that impact

RTA’s ability to meet strategic objectives and the Mission,

Vision, and Values.

Other improvement tools and methodologies are

implemented, which include Problem Identification and

Corrective Action (PICA), Lean Six Sigma, International

Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Criteria for

Excellence. RTA’s improvement system identifies the value

of continual over continuous improvement. Continual improvement is identified as ongoing cycles of learning that show

progressive change in the discovery of new problems and solutions. Continuous improvement, while still beneficial, is

identified as constant focus on the same issue at the same stage in its improvement cycle. Based upon the principle process

cycle, RTA’s performance improvement system allows for rapid deployment of solutions to ensure organizational learning

and analytical agility to support continual improvement. Bus stops were surveyed to ensure the data in the database was

accurate and ensure validation of the stops for each route. Stops were then compared to those in NextConnect and the

Google Transit app to ensure accuracy. Processes and procedures were tracked, problems identified, improvements

implemented, and continual improvement strategies continued.

Stops are Moved

Stops adjusted in Hastus

Import Hastus Data into TM

Export Data to Survey Tool

Survey adjusted Stops

Import Survey data into TM

Ensure Data Accuracy

Link Announcement

Export Files to Vehicles

Figure 74

Figure 76 Figure 75

31.1 31.6

28.8

32.2

24.826.0

29.7

32.5

38.3

21.3

35.0

34

34

5 5

21 1

43

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

Dec‐15

Jan‐16

Feb‐16

Mar‐16

Apr‐16

May‐16

Jun‐16

Jul‐16

Aug‐16

Sep‐16

Oct‐16

Nov‐16

Dec‐16

AVG HRS

Transmission RebuildAvg Hrs Standard (30 Hrs) WO's Completed Trendline

Figure 77 Figure 78


Throughout the year, Action Items for each

TransitStat project were identified and tracked.

As Action Items were completed, updates would

be submitted on progress. As challenges arose,

solutions would be identified and implemented.

If resources were needed, they would be

identified during the meeting and tracked throughout the year as well.

Electronic Repair created a Predictive

Maintenance program for Farebox Repair. They

tracked defects per 100,000 transactions. Total

defects in 2016 were 1 percent less when

compared to 2015. Total farebox transactions

were 21.4 percent lower than 2015.

Farebox components were identified for the

replacement program and SOPs written on how

to implement the Predictive Maintenance

program and the intervals for the replacements,

then technicians were trained on the new

procedures. Error rates and cycle counts were

researched and agreed upon. Maintenance

reports were developed for the fareboxes and

reports created to track the errors. Reports were

written on equipment that was not performing

within specifications.

Scorecard Metric Performance

Target

TRiM Unit: Pass Misreads < 5%

Coin Validator: Coin Misreads < 5%

Bill Validator: Current Bill Count < 500

Figure 79

Action Items Status Updates

1. Develop SOPs to help standardize processes Completed

2. Develop QA audits from SOPs Completed

3. Maximize training opportunities Allison e‐learning in progress, 341 modules passed so far.

4. Monitor radiator/engine rebuild hours On‐going

5. Implement 5S Brakes & Transmission completed; Reclaim Area in progress

Resources Needed Status Updates1. Portable lift set needed to increase lift capacity to support Predictive Maintenance

Completed

2. CNG upgrades needed at CBM to complete heavy maintenance

Sensors and Alarms – March 2017Exhaust – October 2016Generator – March 2017

Figure 80


TRANSITSTAT ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS

In 9 years, TransitStat has reported on 138 new projects, has held 319 meetings, and reviewed 1,292 presentations. To ensure

that TransitStat has been performing as it was designed, a survey was sent in December 2015 to all project team members.

A total of 74 employees responded, a response rate of 51 percent.

The demographics of the respondents are below. (NA = No

Answer)

88% of the Authority’s employees are within the Operations

Division.

82% of the Authority’s Operating Budget is within the

Operations Division

Senior Management contains CEO, District General Managers

(DGMs), and Executive Directors

Management contains Directors, Assistant Directors,

Managers, and Assistant Managers

Non‐Bargaining Employees include Supervisors, Analysts,

and other non‐union employees

Bargaining Employees are those employees who are part of

the ATU or FOP

In 2015, TransitStat ended its 8th Year.

Those employees who have been at RTA 5 years or less were

not at the Authority when TransitStat began and do not have the

background history of why the program started

The first 8 questions used a likert scale: 1 – Strongly Disagree; 2 –

Disagree; 3 – Somewhat Disagree; 4‐ Somewhat Agree; 5 – Agree;

6 – Strongly Agree. To get a better understanding of the range of

responses, the Average, Mode, percent agree (percentage of

scores 4 to 6) were calculated. The Average is the summation of all of the responses divided by the number of responses.

The mode is the response that occurs most often. The percent agree is the percentage of all scores for the question that

were from 4 to 6.

Figure 81

Figure 82

Figure 83


From the responses, most respondents have

seen how TransitStat has impacted the

Authority, department, and/or division.

Communication and accountability are two

areas of improvement for the TransitStat

Panel and program. To address these issues,

all TransitStat members were invited to

attend an overview of TransitStat: what RTA

was like before TransitStat was implemented;

why TransitStat was created; how TransitStat

was introduced to RTA; how TransitStat has

helped to change the culture and the

organization; and where TransitStat is leading

the Authority. To assist the project teams in

understanding the objective, measurements,

and goals of their TransitStat projects,

Improvement Action Teams were created.

Each of the three teams consist of employees who are experts in their fields and understand how to gather, review, and

analyze data and how to create a project scope, measurements, and action plan. Each of the project teams will meet with

an Improvement Action Team in February to create the project plan for 2016.

2016 TranstStat Engagement Survey

A second TransitStat Engagement Survey was distributed to all

project teams at the end of 2016. A total of 40 employees

completed the survey, a response rate of 25 percent, a 46 percent

response rate decrease from 2015. Nineteen respondents

completed the SWOT Analysis; 13 respondents completed a portion

of the SWOT questions; 8 employees provided no information.

The average response rates per Division and Employment Level are

below.

Total Respondents: 74

Question Scale: 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 6 (Strongly Agree)Average

ScoreMode % Agree

1TransitStat forum is supportive of innovation and 'out of the box' solutions

4.54 5.00 89.2%

2TransitStat structure & objectives are clearly communicated an performance expectations are clearly stated for me and my team

4.62 5.00 85.1%

3The frequency of presentations align with project progress and activity and holds participants accountable for completing projects on time

4.27 5.00 79.7%

4TransitStat provides access to repeatable process improvements from other projects and departments

4.42 5.00 79.7%

5TransitStat has made a positive financial impact on my department / the organization

4.77 6.00 90.5%

6TransitStat has improved our organizational operations and business processes

4.86 5.00 89.2%

7I have / My team has seen direct impact of process improvements from TransitStat projects

4.66 5.00 90.5%

8

TransitStat recognizes outstanding performance and clearly identifies when improvements are needed through access to training, tools, or resources through partner departments

4.32 5.00 79.7%

51% Response Rate

Figure 84

Figure 85 Figure 86

Figure 87


Responses to the Survey Questions and comparisons to the 2015 TransitStat Engagement Survey are below.

Figure 88

Figure 89

Question 2016 Response

2015 Response

TransitStat Forum is supportive of innovation and “out of the box” solutions

Agree: 87.5% Avg. Score: 4.30


The TransitStat structure & objectives are clearly communicated and performance expectations are clearly stated



The frequency of presentations align with project progress and activity



TransitStat provides access to repeatable process improvements from other projects and departments



TransitStat has made a positive impact on my department / section



The TransitStat Planning Team used the comments and suggestions from the 2015 TransitStat Engagement Survey to improve TransitStat in 2016


N/A

The introductory meetings at the beginning of the year helped me to understand why and how TransitStat was formed and how TransitStat has changed through the years

Agree: 87.5% Avg. Score: 4,81

N/A

The meetings with the Improvement Action Teams were helpful in identifying the project, scope, objectives, measures, targets, and initiatives


N/A

My project team and I assigned a baseline metric (Industry Standard or Authority Standard) to benchmark the project’s progress


N/A

I have / My team has seen direct impact of process improvements from TransitStat Projects



TransitStat recognizes outstanding performance and clearly identifies when improvements are needed through access to training, tools, or resources through partner departments



Figure 90


SWOT responses to the 2016 TransitStat Engagement Survey are below.

FUEL HEDGING

Due to high costs of diesel fuel in 2008, GCRTA implemented an initiative to mitigate the risk of the volatility through an

Energy Price Risk Management Program. In 2008, RTA experienced record highs in fuel cost as well as extreme volatility.

The cost per gallon for diesel fuel jumped from $2.54 to $4.18. As a result of the high costs, our total diesel fuel expense

increased by nearly $7.4 million, compared to 2007. This amount was $3.6 million above RTA’s 2008 budget. With this as

the new reality for fuel, the Authority sought to use tools to ensure better performance in the management of its fuel costs,

which resulted in the creation of an Energy Price Risk Management program (Fuel Hedging program).

The Fuel Hedging program’s strategy uses a process that:

1. Addresses market opportunities and market risk.

2. Holds the risk of exceeding budget at or below an acceptable level.

3. Uses historical pricing ranges as pricing parameters.

4. Is continuous.

5. Uses a dollar cost averaging tool.

6. Mitigates transaction‐timing risk by making numerous smaller volume transactions (i.e. 42,000 gallons per

transaction).

Figure 91


The strategy was accomplished with an Advisor, who is responsible for daily execution of the program, including the

execution of transactions, generating reports on the program’s status and results, and monitoring the program and energy

markets. The hedging instruments include purchases of home heating oil futures (the diesel fuel correlate) traded on the

Exchange, as well as, purchases of derivatives with financial institutions that are certified by the International Swaps and

Derivative’s Association (ISDA). RTA’s policy dictates that the maximum hedge ration will not be more than 90 percent of

the forecasted consumption and that hedges can only extend 36 months in advance.

The Authority began positioning itself in the first quarter of 2009. Prices were at a five year low after the market crashed in

the fall of 2008. By April, the Authority had nearly 3.9 million gallons of the 5 million gallon usage, purchased for 2010. The

performance objective was to establish a 2010 fuel cost at or below $2.20 per gallon. Regular reports and tracking were

included in the 2009 through 2011 budget execution. The overall objective of the program is to decrease energy volatility,

increase the certainty of future fuel costs, stabilize and control the budget and finally to lower overall long‐term energy

costs. In 2008, fuel costs were $19.4 million. Using a firm fixed price contract for 2009, those costs were reduced to $17.4

million. For 2010, the budgeted cost for fuel was $9.39 million. Factoring in the shares of home heating oil that was sold,

net cost of diesel fuel was $8.0 million. Total diesel fuel costs in 2011 were budgeted at $11.0 million and ended the year at

$9.9 million. The fuel costs for 2012 were budgeted at $12.8 million and ended the year at $12.6 million. For 2015, the budget

was $13.44 million but the actual cost ended at $10.8 million. Well under budget. Fuel prices have dropped dramatically. The

system is working exactly as it was designed and is protecting the Authority against any dramatic rise in fuel prices. Fuel for

2016, 2017 and 2018 is fully hedged. Some hedges for 2018 fuel are as low as $1.48/gallon. The projected cost for diesel fuel

for 2016 is $9.6 million and for 2017 is $7.2 million. Prices are lower and usage is being reduced due to a new fleet.

In addition, RTA bought 90 new Gillig CNG buses and installed a CNG fueling station at Hayden Garage. Those vehicles

began operating in August 2015. Costs for natural gas for their propulsion has been $.92/diesel gallon equivalent. These

vehicles are also lowering the amount of diesel fuel being used. For 2016. RTA will use 1.3 million gallons less diesel than was

used in 2014, a reduction from 4.4 million gallons to 3.1 million gallons.

Department Budgets 95

OPERATING DEPARTMENT BUDGETS OVERVIEW

The Operating Departments Budget Section provides detailed information about the budget of a particular division or department within the Authority. Departments are listed in department‐number order within their respective divisions.

DIVISION 1: OPERATIONS

31 – Paratransit District

32 – Rail District

33 – Asset & Configuration Management Department

34 – Transit Police Department

35 – Service Management Department

38 – Service Quality Management Department

39 – Fleet Management District

43 – Pass‐Thrus

46 – Hayden District

49 – Triskett District

58 – Intelligent Transportation Systems Department

DIVISION 2: FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

10 – Office of Business Development

60 – Accounting

62 – Support Services

64 – Procurement

65 – Revenue

DIVISION 3: ENGINEERING & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

55 – Project Support

57 – Programming & Planning

80 – Engineering & Project Development

DIVISION 4: LEGAL AFFAIRS

15 – Safety

21 – Legal

22 – Risk Management

DIVISION 5: HUMAN RESOURCES

14 – Human Resources

18 – Labor & Employee Relations

30 – Training & Employee Development

DIVISION 6: EXECUTIVE

12 – Executive

16 – Secretary/Treasurer – Board of Trustees

19 – Internal Audit

53 – Marketing & Communications

61 – Information Technology

67 – Office of Management & Budget

99 – Fund Transfers


ORGANIZATION OF DEPARTMENT BUDGET INFORMATION

AUTHORITY

Organizational Chart

General Fund Operating Expenditures by Division and Department

General Fund Positions by Division and Department

DIVISION

Mission Statement

Division Overview

Achievements & Objectives

DEPARTMENT

Mission Statement

Department Overview

Priorities for 2017

Key Performance Indicators

Budget Highlights

Staffing Highlights

Organizational Chart


AUTHORITY‐WIDE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

Figure 92


OPERATING BUDGET – GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY DIVISION

DIV: 1 - OPERATIONS2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

DEPT # DESCRIPTION ACTUAL ACTUAL ESTIMATE BUDGET PLAN PLAN31 PARATRANSIT DISTRICT 21,629,056.58 23,155,556.15 22,756,665.35 24,346,633.99 25,027,989.31 25,734,389.7232 RAIL DISTRICT 37,374,727.35 37,871,104.52 38,113,530.58 39,417,315.94 40,176,754.66 40,957,284.3333 ASSET AND CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT 0.00 1,967,713.50 1,626,264.80 2,010,922.68 2,071,969.73 2,135,151.8334 TRANSIT POLICE 11,554,899.07 12,218,073.10 13,544,938.48 14,537,936.99 14,573,121.70 14,875,445.8135 SERVICE MANAGEMENT 8,663,617.15 5,270,124.31 5,969,417.53 6,236,549.07 6,369,147.60 6,505,680.7738 SERVICE QUALITY MANAGEMENT 6,449,620.59 5,167,853.87 7,141,427.20 7,058,361.84 7,198,426.27 7,342,202.5339 FLEET MANAGEMENT 43,330,056.62 41,175,461.53 41,812,637.60 42,262,698.67 41,449,797.76 40,820,498.1743 PASS THRU 654,343.00 382,083.00 $280,000.00 $320,000.00 $0.00 $0.0046 HAYDEN DISTRICT 46,833,172.80 45,847,425.44 44,449,582.71 46,528,075.35 47,409,570.67 48,314,267.3149 TRISKETT DISTRICT 31,570,199.19 31,636,391.21 33,270,626.61 33,713,349.01 34,361,995.34 35,027,769.4758 INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS 0.00 0.00 710,096.70 1,263,842.12 1,292,839.17 1,322,781.58

DIVISION TOTALS 208,059,692.35 204,691,786.63 209,675,187.56 217,695,685.65 219,931,612.22 223,035,471.51

DIV: 2 - FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

DEPT # DESCRIPTION ACTUAL ACTUAL ESTIMATE BUDGET PLAN PLAN10 OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 352,274.37 408,029.85 664,870.86 662,743.28 421,489.15 430,469.3060 ACCOUNTING 2,255,371.29 2,196,511.43 2,506,321.63 2,651,942.11 2,706,710.79 2,762,932.5061 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 5,586,993.79 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0062 SUPPORT SERVICES 965,709.89 914,909.94 930,370.97 1,011,382.41 1,028,214.22 1,045,618.9964 PROCUREMENT 1,660,827.05 1,647,187.80 1,653,149.02 1,694,092.07 1,729,894.46 1,766,652.9865 REVENUE 2,136,171.06 2,149,355.15 2,195,130.04 2,299,332.15 2,349,355.46 2,400,950.26

DIVISION TOTALS 12,957,347.45 7,315,994.17 7,949,842.52 8,319,492.03 8,235,664.08 8,406,624.02

DIV: 3 - ENGINEERING & PROJECT MANAGEMENT2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

DEPT # DESCRIPTION ACTUAL ACTUAL ESTIMATE BUDGET PLAN PLAN55 PROJECT SUPPORT 387,725.64 367,989.83 366,881.87 370,335.65 377,691.30 385,243.6957 PROGRAMMING & PLANNING 638,741.18 723,997.38 810,429.56 1,099,103.46 1,108,729.08 1,118,612.5580 ENGINEERING & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 1,740,311.91 2,005,906.52 2,109,456.74 2,372,607.67 2,421,009.04 2,470,706.95

DIVISION TOTALS 2,766,778.73 3,097,893.73 3,286,768.17 3,842,046.78 3,907,429.42 3,974,563.20

DIV: 4 - LEGAL AFFAIRS2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

DEPT # DESCRIPTION ACTUAL ACTUAL ESTIMATE BUDGET PLAN PLAN15 SAFETY 797,005.46 917,736.61 938,485.41 1,028,703.54 1,051,277.14 1,074,558.0421 LEGAL 2,420,062.32 3,524,130.21 3,917,593.58 4,419,341.84 4,478,479.97 4,539,296.2722 RISK MANAGEMENT 5,997,251.61 4,497,099.15 3,763,023.81 5,131,006.38 5,163,285.32 5,196,232.28

DIVISION TOTALS 9,214,319.39 8,938,965.97 8,619,102.80 10,579,051.76 10,693,042.42 10,810,086.58

DIV: 5 - HUMAN RESOURCES2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

DEPT # DESCRIPTION ACTUAL ACTUAL ESTIMATE BUDGET PLAN PLAN14 HUMAN RESOURCES 1,794,106.09 1,849,070.05 1,615,297.56 2,166,888.58 2,199,631.48 2,233,240.4418 LABOR RELATIONS 759,699.10 907,485.72 934,212.81 1,288,532.83 1,311,955.40 1,336,161.6430 TRAINING & EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT 2,685,388.13 3,138,296.76 3,435,537.79 3,861,999.74 3,938,012.12 4,016,092.99

DIVISION TOTALS 5,239,193.32 5,894,852.53 5,985,048.16 7,317,421.14 7,449,599.00 7,585,495.07

DIV: 6 - EXECUTIVE2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

DEPT # DESCRIPTION ACTUAL ACTUAL ESTIMATE BUDGET PLAN PLAN12 EXECUTIVE 875,400.57 818,978.22 861,133.99 945,609.09 961,274.87 977,356.8116 SECRETARY/TREAS. - BOARD OF TRUSTEES 313,409.52 249,615.93 272,783.71 287,735.76 289,661.13 291,619.0919 INTERNAL AUDIT 604,733.66 660,292.17 615,840.97 858,440.60 873,807.93 889,586.5953 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 3,284,195.38 3,348,938.59 3,254,091.23 3,517,376.79 3,581,045.99 3,646,258.3461 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 0.00 6,708,079.22 6,661,990.29 8,132,770.30 8,268,964.24 8,408,009.8167 OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET 4,742,684.12 5,402,869.29 4,966,731.88 5,999,784.39 6,104,499.14 6,211,347.4399 FUND TRANSFERS 37,355,659.00 39,566,541.00 31,954,360.00 35,462,297.00 36,474,565.00 35,609,971.00

DIVISION TOTALS 47,176,082.25 56,755,314.42 48,586,932.07 55,204,013.93 56,553,818.29 56,034,149.07

Figure 93


OPERATING BUDGET – GENERAL FUND POSITIONS BY DIVISION

Department

2014 Actual

2015 Budget

2015 Actual

2016 Budget

2016 Actual

2017 Budget

DivisionsOperations

31 - Paratransit District 184.0 183.0 183.0 183.0 181.0 181.032 - Rail District 361.0 365.0 370.0 374.0 369.0 373.033 - Asset & Configuration Management 0.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.034 - Transit Police 155.0 155.0 155.0 155.0 155.0 155.035 - Service Management 76.0 71.0 67.0 67.0 60.0 60.038 - Service Quality Management 68.0 68.0 69.0 69.0 69.0 68.039 - Fleet Management 173.0 166.0 167.0 167.0 181.0 181.046 - Hayden District 618.5 612.5 611.5 618.5 613.3 576.549 - Triskett District 438.0 433.0 429.0 432.0 428.3 431.058 - Intelligent Transportation Systems 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.0 8.0

Totals 2,073.5 2,065.5 2,063.5 2,077.5 2,076.5 2,045.5

Finance & Administration10 - Office of Business Development 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.060 - Accounting 27.0 27.0 27.0 27.0 27.0 27.061 - Information Technology 28.0 32.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.062 - Support Services 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.064 - Procurement 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.065 - Revenue 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0

Totals 100.0 104.0 72.0 72.0 72.0 72.0

Engineering & Project Management55 - Project Support 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.057 - Programming & Planning 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.080 - Engineering & Project Development 19.0 19.0 19.0 20.0 20.0 20.0

Totals 27.0 27.0 27.0 28.0 28.0 28.0

Legal Affairs15 - Safety 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.821 - Legal 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.022 - Risk Management 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.8 8.8 8.8

Totals 39.5 40.0 40.0 40.3 40.3 40.5

Human Resources14 - Human Resources 15.0 16.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.018 - Labor & Employee Relations 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.030 - Training & Employee Development 26.0 26.0 26.0 28.0 28.0 28.0

Totals 46.0 47.0 49.0 51.0 51.0 51.0

Executive12 - Executive 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.016 - Secretary/Treasurer - Board of Trustees 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.019 - Internal Audit 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.053 - Marketing & Communication 29.0 29.0 29.0 29.0 30.0 30.061 - Information Technology 0.0 0.0 32.0 32.0 31.0 32.067 - Office of Management & Budget 11.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

Totals 62.0 61.0 93.0 93.0 94.0 95.0

Grand Total 2,348.0 2,344.5 2,344.5 2,361.8 2,361.8 2,332.0

Staffing Level ComparisonsAuthorized Staffing Level by Division

Figure 94

Department Budgets – Operations Division 101

OPERATIONS DIVISION MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Operations Division is to provide safe, reliable, and effective customer‐focused transportation services

throughout the RTA’s service area in accordance with the service policies and financial plans adopted by the Authority.

DIVISION OVERVIEW

The Operations Division provides special door‐to‐door and scheduled fixed route bus and rail transportation services to the

general public and is responsible for maintenance of all vehicles, equipment, and properties. The Division is also responsible

for security and transit police services.

The Operations Division supports various Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) in the focus areas of Voice of Customer and Continual

Process Improvement. A variety of teams are leading efforts, projects, and Change Initiatives to Enhance Customer

Experience, Increase Service Efficiency, and Achieve a State of good Repair. The Operations Division is a key supporter of the

VFO to Achieve a Safety Culture. Relevant Scorecard Measures include On‐Time Performance, Ridership, Average Cost per

Paratransit Trip, Miles between Service Interruption

2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Continued focus on the goals established for the TEAM initiatives.

Continued implementation of the Strategic Plan VFOs Grow Passenger Satisfaction and Increase Service Efficiency and Initiatives 4 Implement Predictive Maintenance Program and 5 Analyze Paratransit Practices. Continued participating on interagency teams responsible for other VFOs and Initiatives.

Implemented approved changes for Paratransit in 2016.

Incorporated the Strategic Plan objectives in the Operations Division 2016 Performance Plans.

In coordination with Safety and Battelle, continued development of the E‐TRP project designed to alert operators of pedestrians who may be about to cross the street and vehicles that may be at risk of making a right turn from around the left side of the bus. Project will be implemented in 2017

Implemented the services identified in the 2016 Service Management Plan (SMP) and the services that were approved after public hearing review for cost savings modifications.

Implemented the fixed‐route and Paratransit fare increases that were approved after public hearing review.

Continued efforts to improve internal communications at all levels of the Operations Division.

Implemented a new Communications Specialist position in SQ.

Continued the One Stop at a Time Initiative in the Service Quality Department designed to focus on accident reduction, improve on time performance and improve communications with operators.

Developed the ICC Modernization Strategic Plan. Implementation of the multi‐year Plan will begin in 2017.

Completed and staffed the new SQ Field Office at the Woodhill facility.

Continued implementation of text messaging for operators to reduce voice radio traffic.

Continued implementation of Predictive Maintenance at the Hayden District and began implementation of Predictive Maintenance for the Triskett District and Electronic Repair. Paratransit and Rail will be the last districts for Predictive Maintenance.

Continued working with the Public Square Redevelopment Team to ensure that RTA services are addressed and customer inconvenience minimized.

Implemented new bus route changes in downtown Cleveland in April to prepare for the completion of the Public Square project and to save resources as much as possible.

Continued supporting the operational and security teams preparing for the Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland in 2016.

Implemented bus re‐routes affected by street closures during the RNC.

Provided TP resources for RNC security. TP temporarily acquired 36 outside explosives detection K‐9 teams through the TSA for increased system security for the RNC.


TP was recognized by the US Secret Service, Ohio Department of Public Safety and Cleveland’s Mayor for security efforts during the RNC.

TP coordinated with Internal Audit throughout the year to address several significant sensitive internal fraud matters.

Provided Paratransit service for RNC delegates.

Implemented bus bridge rail replacements during periods of rail construction service closures.

Continued fine‐tuning services to minimize cost and maximize service delivery productivity in response to changing ridership and traffic conditions.

Continued the bus stop consolidation & safety improvement program along with more informative bus stop signs.

In partnership with Safety, continued efforts to instill a Safety Culture orientation within all Operations Division organizational units.

Continued implementation of the MAP‐21 Safety and State of Good Repair standards.

Continued focus on Rail infrastructure repair/upgrades.

Scrapped sixteen (16) obsolete rail cars after removing usable parts/components and stocking them in Inventory. Sixteen cars remain for scrapping in 2017.

Continued to aggressively support and participate in the TransitStat program to reduce costs and improve the Authority's business practices and services.

Continued Brand Management efforts in conjunction with Marketing: Health Line, Cleveland State Line, Downtown Trolley, Red Line, Blue/Green Lines, Transit Centers and Park/Ride Service.

Completed in‐house interior rehabilitation of 40 Heavy Rail Vehicles.

Continued establishment of standards/guidelines for measuring maintenance performance.

Continued to refine RTA's system security and emergency preparedness and operations plans.

Completed up‐dating the Authority’s Continuation of Operations Plan (COOP).

Continued increased Transit Police presence on Red Line trains, particularly during school travel periods.

Continued efforts for reducing crime on RTA vehicles and at RTA facilities.

Continued Community Policing at Hayden, Triskett and Rail Districts whereby Transit Police Officers report to the districts and interact with operators.

Procured non‐revenue vehicles as provided for in the 2016 budget.

Inspected and put‐in service new Gillig CNG buses that were acquired in 2016.

Implemented twelve (12) new 35’ Gillig Trolley buses.

Implemented 20 MV1 Paratransit buses purchased in 2015.

Implemented the new ITS department approved for 2016 that reports directly to the DGM ‐ Operations.

Continued to aggressively support/enforce the Authority’s sustainability initiatives and expanded the FTA ESMS Institute pilot that was developed at CBM to other Operations Districts.

Continued rebuilding RTV transmissions and energy storage systems.

Continued replacement of TVM shells with stainless steel.

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue implementation of the Strategic Plan VFOs Grow Passenger Satisfaction and Increase Service Efficiency and Initiatives 4 Implement Predictive Maintenance Program and 5 Analyze Paratransit Practices. Continued participating on interagency teams responsible for other VFOs and Initiatives.

Continue focus on the goals established for the TEAM initiatives.

In partnership with Safety, continue efforts to instill a Safety Culture orientation within all Operations Division organizational units.

Continue to aggressively support and participate in the TransitStat program to reduce costs and improve the Authority's business practices and services.

Implement a new Rail Operations Committee to strategically focus on identifying and correcting equipment, facility, and infrastructure issues.

Incorporate the Strategic Plan objectives in the Operations Division 2017 Performance Plans.

In coordination with Safety and Battelle, implement the E‐TRP project designed to alert operators of pedestrians who may be about to cross the street and vehicles that may be at risk of making a right turn from around the left side of the bus.

Implement the services identified in the 2017 Service Management Plan (SMP).


Develop a plan for replacement of the service operations radio system.

Continue efforts to improve internal communications at all levels of the Operations Division.

Continue efforts for improving customer communications including public address systems (including video), mobile apps and social media sites for service notifications and other communications.

Continue the One Stop at a Time Initiative in the Service Quality Department designed to focus on accident reduction, improve on time performance and improve communications with operators.

Begin implementation of the multi‐year ICC Modernization Strategic Plan developed in 2016.

Continue implementation of text messaging for operators to reduce voice radio traffic.

Continue implementation of Predictive Maintenance at the Hayden District, Triskett District, Paratransit District and Electronic Repair. Rail will be the last district for Predictive Maintenance.

Implement bus bridge rail replacements during periods of rail construction service closures.

Develop and advertise RFP for Paratransit contract operations and hire successful firm.

Continue fine‐tuning services to minimize cost and maximize service delivery productivity in response to changing ridership and traffic conditions.

Implement in coordination with Marketing the new vanpool program (vRide).

Continue the bus stop consolidation & safety improvement program along with more informative bus stop signs.

Continue implementation of the MAP‐21 Safety and State of Good Repair standards.

Determine if the Ultramain maintenance management system can be enhanced to address MAP‐21 reporting requirements or if another software system will be required.

Continue focus on Rail infrastructure repair/upgrades.

Implement rail yard oversight/supervision/operation as recommended by Internal Audit and agreed to by the ATU regarding bargaining‐unit positions and functions.

Scrap the remaining sixteen rail (16) cars in 2017.

Develop a rail yard plan for storage and movement of rail cars to be implemented after the remaining 16 rail cars are scrapped and rail yard track and other infrastructure repairs are made.

Continue Brand Management efforts in conjunction with Marketing: Health Line, Cleveland State Line, Downtown Trolley, Red Line, Blue/Green Lines, Transit Centers and Park/Ride Service.

Continue establishment of standards/guidelines for measuring maintenance performance.

Continue to refine RTA's system security and emergency preparedness and operations plans.

Continue increased Transit Police presence on Red Line trains, particularly during school travel periods.

Reorganize Transit Police to provide increased focus on fare enforcement and traffic enforcement.

Continue efforts for reducing crime on RTA vehicles and at RTA facilities.

Continue Community Policing at Hayden, Triskett and Rail Districts whereby Transit Police Officers report to the districts and interact with operators.

Establish a program that increases security at RTA’s Main Office and Operating Districts.

Procure non‐revenue vehicles as provided for in the 2017 budget.

Inspect and put‐in service new Gillig buses that will be delivered in 2017.

Continue to aggressively support/enforce the Authority’s sustainability initiatives and expand the FTA ESMS Institute pilot that was developed at CBM to other Operations Districts.

Continue rebuilding RTV transmissions and energy storage systems.

Complete replacement of TVM shells with stainless steel.

Upgrade the Fare Collection System Network Manager server to ensure on‐going functional viability.

Enhance the reporting of the Fare Collection system data to improve ridership, predictive maintenance and fare collection reports.

Implement route adjustment and detours into the CAD/AVL to improve bus/rail management.

Enhance the Dispatcher training program.


LIST OF DEPARTMENTS

Department Number Department Name

31 Paratransit District

32 Rail District

33 Asset & Configuration Management Department

34 Transit Police Department

35 Service Management Department

38 Service Quality Management Department

39 Fleet Management District

43 Pass‐Thrus

46 Hayden District

49 Triskett District

58 Intelligent Transportation Systems Department


PARATRANSIT DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Paratransit District is to provide essential door‐to‐door transportation services 24‐hours a day, 7‐days a

week for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) eligible persons who cannot use regular GCRTA services as required by the

ADA law and to manage all facilities and vehicle maintenance functions related to District operations.

STRATEGIC PLAN CHANGE INITIATIVES & SCORECARD MEASURES

<VFO Increase Service Efficiency, Scorecard Measure Avg Cost per Paratransit Trip; Incr Rev/Red Exp‐ Medicaid Reimbursement‐

OMB Partnered Action Plan>


Achieved over five million trip requests without denial (2007)

Completed trips increased 1.2%

Maintained better than 90% total on‐time performance

Implemented new telephone scheduling system

Booked 9% of trips through Web/IVR

2017 PRIORITIES

Monitor Paratransit services improve contractor performance

Improve customer utilization of scheduling options, IVR, Web, and E‐Mail.

Create efficiencies to manage growth/demand for services.

Complete construction of walkway for Hostlers’ access to Propane fueling station and emergency egress for Revenue Department employees.

Continue energy conservation efforts.


PARATRANSIT DISTRICT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014 Actual 2015 Actual 2016

Estimate 2017 Budget

501100 Rail Operators' Labor 5,136,650 5,008,440 5,061,866 5,477,289

501110 Overtime - Rail Operators 1,336,935 1,497,897 844,532 1,000,000

501200 Hourly Employees Payroll 2,681,659 2,746,344 2,714,728 2,891,419

501210 Overtime - Hourly Employees 351,318 224,070 194,783 200,000

501300 Labor - Salaried Employees 1,015,966 1,031,060 1,013,890 1,047,845

501310 Overtime - Salaried Employees 67,225 66,860 50,691 50,000

502000 Fringe Benefits 3,727,235 3,697,969 3,754,716 3,920,009

503000 Services 66,584 9,697 21,786 500

503042 Vendor In-House Service (Napa) 126,136 283,004 186,868 216,000

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 32,881 42,572 70,929 80,600

504000 Material & Supplies 23,823 (8,096) 10,639 55,022

504031 Gasoline - Storage Tanks 569 368 500 3,300

504032 Propane Fuel 0 0 67,000 140,000

504050 Office Supplies 800

504081 Vendor In-House Parts (Napa) 537,564 700,372 439,619 720,000

508020 Purchased Transportation - Suburban

6,498,377 7,865,205 8,318,115 8,530,040

508027 Purchased Transportation - Taxi 0 0 0 0

509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 19,220 (13,232) 5,459 5,700

509020 Travel And Conferences 0 0 0 5,150

509022 Meals & Concessions 0 0 0 100

512000 Leases & Rentals 1,600 1,010 (490) 2,860

Total 21,629,057 23,155,556 22,756,665 24,346,634


PARATRANSIT DISTRICT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 0137 Paratransit Operator 109.0 109.0 109.0 109.0

0138 Paratransit Operator 10.0 9.0 9.0 9.0

0141 Janitor 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

03 0347 Hostler 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0348 Hostler 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

04 0442 Equipment Servicer 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0

0447 Equipment Maintainer 6.0 6.0 5.0 5.0


0457 Paratran Reservations Op 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0

0458 Maintainer 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

05 0535 Heating/Ac Mechanic 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0541 Equipment Body Mechanic 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0543 Equipment Electrician 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0548 Maintenance Technician 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0549 Maintenance Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0554 Paratransit Group Leader 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0554 Paratransit Group Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0557 Dispatcher Paratransit 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0588 Material Handler Leader 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0

25 1085 District Business Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1069 Asst Equip Manager 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

28 0761 Manager Facilities 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0851 Manager Equipment 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1084 Assistant Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

29 0786 Manager Transportation 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 0777 District Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 184.0 183.0 181.0 181.0


PARATRANSIT DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

Department Budgets – Operating Division 109

RAIL DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Rail District is to provide safe, reliable, clean, and effective rapid transit services to GCRTA customers and

to effectively manage all facilities, track infrastructure, and vehicle maintenance functions related to District operations.


In striving to meet its Mission, the Rail District supports the Operations Division in meeting Scorecard Measures defined for

the Vital Few Objectives to Enhance Customer Experience and Increase Service Efficiency. The measures include TEAM Goals

such as Miles between Service Interruptions, On‐Time Performance, and Passenger Fares.

Scorecard Measures and Change Initiatives impacted by the Rail District’s strategic performance include Preventative

Maintenance Compliance of Facilities and Equipment, and inclusion in the Predictive Maintenance and State of Good Repair

programs.


Exceeded TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) goal (8,500 miles) for miles between service interruptions, 2016 average: 125,115

Saved over $800,000 in the completion of the HRV Overhaul project

Replaced over 2200 deteriorated railroad crossties throughout the system.

Completed a three year project of total replacement of the S5G switch machines.

Initiated the four tab section insulator project.

Retrofitted 100% of the LED lights at the Airport RTS location

Rebuilt the Rail lifts located in the Rail Shop

2017 PRIORITIES

Begin the Light Rail Vehicle Replacement Floor and Roof Project

Continue to aggressively replace and install cross ties.

Develop strategic plan for capital improvements to entire infrastructure to include stations, substations, track, signals, and equipment.

Continued implementation of LEAN programs to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Continue to support the Rail Clean Corridor program for graffiti removal.

Continue to install the four tab section insulator system.

Aggressively perform signal system maintenance during relay testing, junction box replacement, and double bonding to mitigate track circuit failure, reduce service delays, and ensure a safe system.

Install updated lighting in a rail station

In conjunction with Engineering, Power & Way and Facilities will continue to support the Brook Park station rehabilitation project.

Implement use of Tour‐Guard system for Facilities, Equipment, and Power & Way employees

Explore new chopper technology for the LRV fleet replacing the outdated pre‐exciter.

Support 2017 Operations Division initiatives and projects as assigned.


RAIL DISTRICT BUDGET

Object Class



501100 Rail Operators' Labor 4,645,814 4,523,686 4,530,514 4,368,165

501110 Overtime - Rail Operators 540,623 766,415 1,245,488 997,452


501210 Overtime - Hourly Employees 1,687,455 2,218,981 1,861,375 1,667,750


501310 Overtime - Salaried Employees 168,759 179,348 183,845 75,000

502000 Fringe Benefits 7,828,164 7,876,273 8,337,561 8,371,899

503000 Services 917,165 650,178 234,531 396,000

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 2,043,312 2,673,620 2,901,267 2,973,000

504000 Material & Supplies 1,199,719 863,824 904,002 747,000

504050 Office Supplies 2,100

504090 Tires & Tubes 0 0 0 3,000

505000 Utilities 0 0 0 0

505010 Propulsion Power 3,170,388 2,913,504 2,888,163 3,542,200

505020 Water (1,481) 977 2,444 2,000

505021 Electricity 418,203 430,090 288,704 464,000

509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 41,697 53,412 36,617 48,900



512000 Leases & Rentals 0 0 0 0

Total 37,374,727 37,871,105 38,113,531 39,417,316


RAIL DISTRICT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 0141 Janitor 25.0 24.0 24.0 24.0

0152 Laborer 11.0 17.0 17.0 17.0

03 0301 Administrative Assistant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0337 Station Attendant 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0

0341 Janitor Leader 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0346 Vehicle Servicer 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0

0352 Laborer 16.0 15.0 15.0 15.0

0358 Maintenance Helper 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

04 0437 Operator 70.0 77.0 81.0 85.0

0438 Operator 11.0 9.0 9.0 9.0

0442 Equipment Servicer 7.0 6.0 6.0 6.0

0446 Body Mechanic 12.0 12.0 10.0 10.0


0448 Substation Maintainer 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

0450 Signal Maintainer 14.0 12.0 12.0 12.0

0452 Track Maintainer 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0453 Line Maintainer 8.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0458 Maintainer 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0

0485 Mat Handler/Stock Clerk 3.0 3.0 0.0 0.0

05 0521 Rail Equip Body Mechanic 3.0 2.0 2.0 1.0

0522 Rail Equip Electrician 5.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0523 Rail Equipment Mechanic 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

0524 Rail Brake Mechanic 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0525 Rail Machinist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0



0550 Signal Maint Technician 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0552 Special Equip Op/Mechanic 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0553 Rail Ac Mechanic 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

0567 Motor Repair Leader 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0577 Dispatcher 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0


0589 Power & Way Stock Clerk 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

06 0615 Fiber Optic Technician 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0623 Asst Supervisor Rail Shop 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0624 Electronics Technician 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0637 Staff Assistant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0646 Crew Chief 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0

0648 Substation Maintainer 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

0650 Signal Technician 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0651 Lead Signal Technician 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0652 Asst Supervisor Track 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


0653 Line Maintainer 7.0 8.0 8.0 8.0

0654 Special Equip Op/Mech Ldr 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0698 Lead Substn Maintainer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

22 0721 Secretary I 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


26 0799 Supv Rail Station Fac 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0900 Janitor Supervisor 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

27 0762 Supervisor - Power & Way 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

1178 Equipment Administrator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1252 Supervisor Rail Shop 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0


1234 Supervisor Signals 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1239 Supervisor Overhead 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1239 Supervisor Traction Power 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1249 Supervisor Rail Traffic 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1273 Supervisor Track And Stru. 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


0792 Manager Rail Equipment 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1526 Manager Power & Way 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1610 Assistant Director 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

1705 Assistant Equipment Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


Total 361.0 370.0 369.0 373.0


RAIL DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART


ASSET & CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Asset and Configuration Management is to utilize a strategic and systematic process through which our

organization procures, operates, maintains, rehabilitates, and replaces assets ensuring FTA and State of Good Repair

compliance.

STRATEGIC PLAN CHANGE INITIATIVES AND SCORECARD MEASURES

Supporting Continual Process Improvement, the Asset & Configuration Management Department leads efforts for two (2)

Change Initiatives in the 2016‐18 Strategic Plan. These include implementing the Predictive Maintenance Program and

Implementing the Top Priorities for Sate of Good Repair and defining the Asset Management Strategy. Scorecard measures

related to these are the TEAM Goal of Miles between Service Interruptions, Preventative Maintenance Compliance Rate for

Equipment and Facilities, and Percentage Rate of Completion for the two (2) Change Initiatives.


Implemented the 2015 Asset Management Plan

Continued to improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency in maintaining assets throughout the Authority.

Implement Predictive Maintenance Program ay Hayden.

Used asset validation information in reporting to FTA/NTD

Ensured all assets are tracked and maintained utilizing our asset management database system (Ultramain)

Validated all Standard Operating Procedures are in compliance with ODOT, Internal Audit, and Safety.

Developed a comprehensive baseline containing SOGR Ratings including assets maintained in Ultramain.

Develop a process using the Schedule 23 forms from engineering to help create the SOGR backlog

Developed a new TransitStat reporting format focusing more on Asset Management, SOGR, and Predictive Maintenance initiatives.

Support employee training and development programs.

Continued to revise all Configuration models pertaining to Fleet, Facilities, and Power and Way in Ultramain.

Developed appropriate preventive maintenance programs and monitor compliance based on Asset Management Standards. Reports are sent out monthly to the districts

Continued to build all maintenance inspections based off manufactures specifications.

Replaced Wheelchair Lifts at Shaker Square.

Continued to work with Linex replacing damaged elevator floors.

Completed all VFO initiatives developed for 2015. (Top Priorities for SOGR.)

2017 PRIORITIES

Implement the 2016 Asset Management Plan

Continue to improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency in maintaining assets throughout the Authority.

Implement Predictive Maintenance Program at Triskett.

Complete asset validation for all of the facilities.

Create a priority matrix for determining which assets need to be replaced in what order

Use asset validation information in reporting to FTA/NTD

Ensure all assets are tracked and maintained utilizing our asset management database system (Ultramain)

Implement a new Asset Management software

Create a backlog number for the SOGR of facilities using the Schedule 23 form that engineering uses.


Continue to revise all Configuration models pertaining to Fleet, Facilities, and Power and Way in Ultramain.

Report to all districts the PM compliance of their assets

Continue building all maintenance inspections based off manufactures specifications.

Remove the W 98th escalator

Continue working with vendors to replace damaged elevator floors.


Realign department for better management of all assets at all locations

Work with OMB to create a process for using % useful life. SOGR, and % slow zones for the CIP

Complete the Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan after the CIP process is completed

ASSET & CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014 Actual 2015 Actual 2016 Estimate

2017 Budget

501300 Labor Salaried Employees 0 583,648 635,121 764,807

501310 Overtime Salaried Employees 0 0 0 0

502000 Fringe Benefits 0 88,891 136,916 284,891

503000 Services 0 894,723 16,378 0

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 0 396,229 829,462 955,200

504000 Materials & Supplies 0 300 5,891 0

504050 Office Supplies 0 0 0 1,200

509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 0 3,922 2,497 0

509020 Travel, Training & Conferences 0 0 0 4,325



Total 0 1,967,714 1,626,265 2,010,923

ASSET & CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

26 Facilities Maintenance Planner 0 6 6 6

Equipment Maintenance Planner 0 4 4 4

27 Configuration Management Fleet Engineer 0 1 1 1

29 Manager of Asset & Configuration Management 0 1 1 1

Total 0 12 12 12


TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) Transit Police Department is to provide a safe and

orderly environment within the transit system, to promote the confidence of the riding public, and to enhance the use of

the entire system. Central to this is the protection of life and property through the prevention of crime and terrorism. The

TP will work in collaboration within the GCRTA and with our regional partners to respond and recover from man‐made and

natural disasters.

STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL ISSUES AND INDICATORS

The Transit Police Department provides support to the Authority, its employees, and customers to meet various objectives

in the Strategic Plan. These include VFOs in the Focus Areas of Voice of Customer and Learning and Innovation. Transit

Police tracks Part 1 and Part 2 Crime rates, Operator assaults, fare evasion, and Community Policing hours.


Collaborated with regional partners to provide a safe and orderly environment during the CAVS parade and

Republican National Convention (RNC)

Collaborated with 36 outside explosives detection K‐9 teams through the TSA for increased system security for the

RNC

Recognized by the US Secret Service, Ohio Department of Public Safety, and Cleveland’s Mayor for security efforts

during the RNC

Coordinated with Internal Audit throughout the year to address several significant sensitive internal fraud

investigations

Refined RTA’s system security and emergency preparedness and operations plans

Continued increased Transit Police presence on Red Line trains, particularly during school travel periods

Continued efforts for reducing crime on RTA vehicles and at RTA facilities

Continued community policing at Hayden, Triskett, and Rail Districts whereby Transit Police Officers report to the

districts and interact with Operators

Coordinated with Rail, Safety, and other Departments emergency evacuation drill in the airport tunnel

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue providing proof of payment, Fare Enforcement, to deter fare evasion

Continue to address serious crimes through participation in multi‐agency task forces

Continue Intelligence Led & Community Policing practices to more effectively and efficiently deploy departmental

resources

Collaborate with regional partners to provide a safe and orderly environment during the Republic National

Convention

Continue to refine RTA’s system security and emergency preparedness and operations plans

Continue increased Transit Police presence on Red Line trains, particularly during school travel periods

Reorganize Transit Police to provide increased focus on fare enforcement and traffic enforcement

Continue Community Policing at Hayden, Triskett, and Rail Districts, whereby Transit Police Officers report to the

districts and interact with the Operators

Establish a program that increases security at RTA’s Main Office and Operating Districts


TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class




501210 Overtime - Hourly Employees 378,849 370,156 580,090 425,000

501300 Labor - Salaried Employees 777,845 784,661 818,976 934,584

501310 Overtime - Salaried Employees 0 0 3 0

502000 Fringe Benefits 2,948,240 3,107,475 3,625,617 3,894,136

502071 W/C – Injuries and Damages 17,238 925 4,718 0

503000 Services 131,520 186,097 112,440 57,150

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 0 0 0 259,400

504000 Material & Supplies 64,114 100,162 62,675 138,800


506000 Casualty & Liability Costs 6,280 5,880 6,400 7,500




512000 Leases & Rentals 4,748 4,751 2,448 10,870

Total 11.554.899 12,218,073 13,544,938 14,537,937

TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 0139 Security Officer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

02 0239 Dispatcher Transit Police 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0

04 0440 Transit Police Officer 84.0 84.0 84.0 84.0

0440 Transit Police Fare Enforcement Officer 15.0 15.0 20.0 20.0

0454 PT Transit Police Fare Enforcement Officer 15.0 15.0 10.0 10.0

05 0540 Transit Police Sergeant 18.0 17.0 17.0 17.0

23 0725 Executive Secretary 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1079 Security Technician 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0


26 1665 Security Systems Specialist 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

27 1060 Lieutenant 4.0 4.0 3.0 3.0

28 0840 Manager Security Systems 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

29 1356 Deputy Director Transit Police 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1248 Commander 0.0 2.0 3.0 3.0

30 1511 Director Security/Chief of Police 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 155.0 155.0 155.0 155.0


SERVICE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The Service Management Department plans, schedules, monitors, and adjusts all fixed‐route transportation service. The

department works with Service Quality and District Management to ensure safe, reliable, and effective service for

passengers. The department also provides centralized facility maintenance services for the Authority and manages the

signage and shelter programs.


The Service Management Department provides support to the Operations & Executive Divisions to meet various

objectives in the Strategic Plan. These include Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) in the Focus Areas of Voice of Customer and

Continual Process Improvement.

Service Management and Service Planning provide valuable service information used by Service Quality and Marketing &

Communications to deliver services. Service levels and Route Performance are impacted by Ridership, Customer

Satisfaction, and vehicle reliability data such as On‐Time Performance and Miles between Service Interruptions;

Scorecard Measures identified in the Strategic Plan.


Improved the cost‐effectiveness of fixed‐route service to meet budget goals.

Used an improved process to plan, schedule and communicate temporary and permanent service adjustments.

Prepared for completion of Public Square construction.

Improved safety & spacing of bus stops and installed more informative bus stop signs.

Successfully planned for the Cavaliers championship celebration and Republican National Convention.

Selected a service provider for a new commuter vanpool program.

Addressed maintenance issues and met preventative maintenance goals.

2017 PRIORITIES

Implement the 2017 Service Management Plan.

Adjust service as needed for construction projects and major special events.

Continue to improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency of service.

Continue to assess bus stops for safety and spacing and continue to replace bus stop signs with the new design.

Continue to focus on customer communications.

Continue maintenance and cleaning of all assigned properties including Brooklyn, Harvard, Southgate, and bus loops & comfort facilities.

Continue maintenance and cleaning of passenger shelters as well as Cleveland State Line stations and the HealthLine.

Continue emphasis on preventive maintenance programs and monitor compliance.

Identify and implement workflow and operating efficiencies.

Support energy conservation and sustainability initiatives.



SERVICE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

SERVICE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Obj. Class

Description 2014 Actual

2015 Actual

2016 Estimate

2017 Budget


501210 Overtime – Hourly Employees 30,315 67,542 105,163 58,000

501300 Labor – Salaried Employees 1,999,886 1,823,443 1,533,299 1,301,108

501310 Overtime – Salaried Employees 38 4,635 3,041 2,700

502000 Fringe Benefits 1,480,182 1,544,420 1,324,305 1,323,301

502071 W/C –Injuries and Damages to Employees 0.00 00.00 635 0

503000 Services 234,427 847,353 335,730 95,028


504000 Materials & Supplies 134,226 377,148 198,637 539,995

508024 Purchased Transportation – Work Access (through 2015)/Vanpool (2016 to present)

648,897 267,560 0.00 100,000


509022 Meals & Concessions 0.00 1,093 386 1,000

512000 Leases & Rentals 0.00 0.00 500 500

Total: 7,056,603 7,096,841 5,825,488 6,459,481

Grade Job Name 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 9942 Service Management Intern 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0141 Janitor 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

0152 Laborer 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0

03 0318 Planning Secretary 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0338 Service Monitor 10.0 8.0 6.0 6.0 6.0

0341 Janitor Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0358 Maintenance Helper 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

04 0401 Secretary 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0447 Equipment Maintainer 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0458 Maintainer 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0460 Stop Sign Maintainer 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

05 0530 Schedule Analyst 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0548 Maintenance Technician 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0549 Maintenance Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0563 Chief Service Monitor 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0577 Dispatcher 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

0599 Sign Shop Leader 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1962 Dispatch Analyst 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

23 0725 Executive Secretary 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

25 0836 Mobility Specialist 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1085 District Business Analyst 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0


1740 Service Management Analyst 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 0793 Scheduling Section Group Leader 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0837 Maintenance Planner 4.0 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0881 Systems Admin CITME 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

0887 Transportation Data Analyst 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

1691 ITS Specialist 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0

0900 Supv Janitorial Service 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1274 Planner III 1.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

1625 Performance Leader Ops 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

27 0867 Bus Shltr/Grg Maint Supv 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0838 Planning Team Leader 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

28 0854 Mgr Oper Analysis/Res/Sys 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

1346 Mgr Service Planning 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1436 Manager Scheduling 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1695 Manager Facilities Configuration 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

29 0791 Mgr Central Facilities 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1621 Asst. Dir – Service Mgmt 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

30 0775 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

99 9921 DGM Operations 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 73.0 76.0 67.0 60.0 60.0

DIRECTORSERVICE MANAGEMENT

30(1)

MANAGERSCHEDULING

28(1)

SECRETARY401(1)

MANAGERCENTRAL FACILITIES

29(1)

MAINTAINER458(1)

MAINTENANCE HELPER

358(2)

SUPV.-BUS SHELTER & BUS GAR. MAINT.

27(1)

MAINTAINER458(6)

STOP SIGN MAINTAINER

460(2)

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

548(1)

MAINTENANCE LEADER

549(1)

SIGN SHOP LEADER

599(1)

LABORER152(15)

JANITOR LEADER341(1)

SUPERVISOR JANITORIAL SVCS.

26(1)

MAINTENANCE HELPER

358(1)

DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER - OPERATIONS

99(1)

PLANNING SECRETARY

318(1)

JANITOR141(4)

PLANNER III26(3)

MANAGERSERVICE PLANNING

28(1)

SCHEDULE ANALYST

530(2)

SCHEDULE SECTION GRP. LDR

26(1)

SERVICE MONITOR338(6)

CHIEF SERVICEMONITOR

563(1)

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

23(1)

INTERN9942(1)

SERVICE MGMT ANALYST

25(1)

PLANNING TEAM LEADER

27(1)


SERVICE QUALITY MANAGEMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The Service Quality Department ensures that the Authority’s various service offerings are on‐time, courteously delivered,

and safely provided. The Department is comprised of supervisors and managers, and utilizes a radio system for real‐time

communications. Primary internal customers include the Bus, Rail, and Paratransit Districts, and the Service Management

Department.


Supporting Continual Process Improvement and Voice of Customer, the Service Quality Management Department

supports GCRTA’s ability to Enhance Customer Experience and Increase Service Efficiency. Service Quality manages and

reports On‐Time Performance, and provides input for processes measured by Customer Satisfaction, and Miles between

Service Interruptions.


Developed and implemented One Stop at a Time Initiative to improve safety, on time performance and communications with operators.

Designed and began implementations of a new SQ Field Office at the Woodhill facility.

In partnership with Safety, continued efforts to instill a Safety Culture orientation in SQ.

Developed a 2016/17 Winter Service Plan.

Developed a plan for SQ supervisors to conduct DriveCam coaching in the field.

Collaborated with Service Management and ITS departments to adjust time points.

Hired a Communications Specialist.

Surveying process to accurately capture the measurement between bus stops based on GPS location, distance

between stops, and compass direction was completed.

Installation of 34 laptops in service vehicles used by SQ Managers and Field Supervisors.

Successfully handled 13 major sporting events in downtown Cleveland over a duration of nine days.

2017 PRIORITIES

Continued focus on the goals established for the TEAM Initiatives.

Continued efforts for improving on‐time service delivery.

Continued focus on improving internal communications.

Continue developing and implementing a certification program for all position classifications in SQ.

Continue using the Commuter Alerts Program. This Program allows for the transmission of certain service status information to rail customers via e‐mail and text. A comparable service is planned for bus customers in the future.

Continue using the Paladin System. This system allows for an audio and digital message directly sent from the ICC to the Red Line rail platforms.

Implement the Strategic Plan that addresses modernization of the ICC with applicable ITS systems. The Plan includes implementation of the systems that are currently owned by the Authority, including: incident management and reporting, customer communications, service management, dynamic route planning, operator performance management, dashboards, etc.

Continue text messaging for operators to reduce voice radio traffic (Rail).

Continue to aggressively support and participate in the TransitStat program.

Continue to support Brand Management activities.

Develop and disseminate 2017/18 Winter Service Plan.

Development and implementation of the “Decision Making Upgrade Campaign”. The campaign consists of question and answer rounds, along with scenario exercises that require SQ personnel to know and understand RTA’s ridership performance data, and how that information impacts their decision making.


SERVICE QUALITY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Estimate 2017

Budget

501200 Hourly Employees Payroll 62,573 11,048 0 0

501210 Overtime – Hourly Employees 85 4 0 0

501300 Labor Salaried Employees 4,154,803 2,992,482 4,581,042 4,674,067

501310 Overtime Salaried Employees 442,495 495.040 615,075 547,833

502000 Fringe Benefits 1,722,612 1,597,604 1,934,446 1,830,113

502071 W/C – Injuries & Damages 0 0 885 0

503000 Services 59,190 66,093 0 1,000

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 0 0 2411 0

504000 Materials & Supplies 4,295 5,564 3,222 0


509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 3,567 6 4,346 350




Total 6,449,621 5,167,854 7,141,427 7,058,362

SERVICE QUALITY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

5 0574 Service Quality Supervisor 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0576 Service Quality Supervisor 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

6 0634 Service Quality Supervisor II 11.0 11.0 9.0 9.0

0635 Supervisor Tower Control 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0

0636 Supervisor Cross Trained 9.0 11.0 11.0 11.0

25 1675 Office Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1137 Load Dispatcher 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

0342 Communications Specialist 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1625 Performance Leader Ops 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0

27 1147 Service Quality Coordinator 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

28 0890 Manager of Service Quality 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0

30 Director of Service Quality 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 68.0 69.0 69.0 68.0


FLEET MANAGEMENT DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT

The Fleet Management District provides management support for the maintenance of the Authority’s bus fleet. Its

primary objective is to provide sufficient, safe, operable, clean, and attractive buses to meet the Authority’s scheduled

service requirements by maintaining and repairing vehicles and overseeing the Authority’s central inventory account.


The Fleet Management District plays a key supporting function to Increase Service Efficiency and Achieving a State of

Good Repair through improving Vehicle Reliability. This includes predictive maintenance programs and asset management

strategies that ensure the Operations Division meets or exceed performance with Preventative Maintenance Compliance,

Predictive Maintenance implementation, and Miles between Service Interruptions.


Complete facility infrastructure improvements to accommodate CNG bus maintenance.

Identified and led CWRU Lean Six Sigma project on new Power & Way Store Room.

Successfully removed over $600,000 of obsolete parts from Inventory.

Supported the Predictive Maintenance Program (PMP) implementation at Hayden District and Electronic Repair.

Successfully planned and executed the 2016 Inventory budget while achieving a 96% service level.

Planned, engineered, and installed 8 turnstiles integrated with GFI fareboxes and station controller in support of Tower City Track 8 shut down.

Completed and implemented predictive maintenance on GFI Odyssey Farebox product line.

Inspected, received and successfully prepped 12 Gillig Trolley buses for revenue service before the start of the 2016 RNC.

Inspected, received and successfully prepped 20 MV‐1 Paratransit Vehicles for revenue service in less than 30 days from time of delivery to RTA property.

Began resident inspection program for 16 CNG 40’ bus build at Gillig.

Began 5S organization of Unit Core Storage area.

Completed installation of 34 Laptops into NRV vehicles.

Disposed of 53 decommissioned buses and 46 NRV’s on govdeals.com.

Enrolled 10 employees into the Allison Transmission Training Program.

Participated in the El Barrio Work Entry Program.

Developed 12 Specifications for contract inventory items and performed follow‐up Technical reviews of all contract bids.

Developed Leased Vehicle specification for RFP.

Developed and initiated Turn Warning System installation project for New Flyer 3200 fleet.

Evaluated Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) for MCI fleet and began installations.

Finalized contract purchase of batteries for RTV Energy Storage System (ESS) for Allison Hybrid system to keep program moving forward. Sourced relays/fuses for rebuild as the best price possible. 14 of 21 ESS rebuilds completed.

Initiated and managed Triskett Fleetwatch DEF dispensing upgrade, so DEF usage can be tracked in Ultramain.

Initiated and managed Paratransit Fleetwatch upgrades at fuel island for MV‐1 fleet dispensing/tracking and Propane fleet mileage tracking in Ultramain.

Warranty Recovery expected to end 2016 at $300,000.

QA item inspections expected to end 2016 at 310.

Manage Problem Identification/Corrective Action (PICA) program (63 submitted in 2016).

Facilities PM Maintenance On‐Time performance estimated to be at 93%.


2017 PRIORITIES

Develop and implement PMP for Electronic Repair’s Xerox, Apollo, Trapeze, and Destination Sign product lines. Analyze the transactional integrity of parts demand in order to eliminate false or duplicate demand and help

contain costs. Continue to support the Predictive Maintenance Program (PMP) at Hayden District. Assist in the implementation

of PMP at Triskett.

Implement QA/Warranty Inspection Program for new vehicles to help identify Warranty issues within first year on property in an effort to increase warranty recovery on new fleets.

Manage the purchase of new vehicles and ensure the delivery of quality built vehicles that meet the needs of the Authority.

Inspect and prep for service new buses and NRV’s as required.

Administer Quality Assurance/Warranty program to ensure the receipt of quality goods/services and warranty recovery.

Provide engineering support on rail/bus projects and product evaluations to improve vehicle reliability and efficiency.

Increase on‐site engineering and QA presence at all districts to improve communication.

Buy and install added pallet racks for continued shop organization.

FLEET MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BUDGET

Obj. Class

Description 2014 Actual 2015 Actual 2016 Actual 2017 Budget


501210 Overtime – Hourly Employees 335,062 237,326 339,070 283,500


501310 Overtime – Salaried Employees 1,012 3,804 3,225 2,250

502000 Fringe Benefits 3,788,152 3,886,070 4,049,675 4,456,500

502071 W.C. – Injuries & Damages 5,200 406 3,106 0

503000 Services 204,823 138,479 105,538 263,564



201009 Materials & Supplies – Inventory 11,799,004 13,959,663 13,382,318 17,499,818

504020 Diesel Fuel 14,138,836 10,963,941 8,660.356 7,743,236

504021 Compressed Natural Gas 0 0 0 0

504031 Gasoline 424,836 251,193 274,827 492,000

504090 Tires & Tubes 1,389,783 1,400,606 1,120,676 1,472,398

507050 State Fuel Tax 1,416,434 1053573 1,354,988 1,057,499


509022 Meals and Refreshments 0 0 157 800


Total: 43,253,750 41,632,891 42,306,313 45,277,274

Total (Net Inventory): 31,454,746 27,673,228 28,923,995 27,777,456


FLEET MANAGEMENT DISTRICT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 0141 Janitor 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

02 0203 Clerk Typist 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

0281 Materials Clerk 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

03 0308 Stenographer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0347 Hostler 3.0 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0358 Maintenance Helper 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

04 0404 Administrative Assistant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0442 Equipment Servicer 3.0 3.0 6.0 4.0 4.0

0445 Elec Equipment Maintainer 21.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0

0446 Body Mechanic 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

0447 Equipment Maintainer 21.0 18.0 19.0 19.0 19.0

0455 Upholsterer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0458 Maintainer 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0485 Mat Handler/Stock Clerk 8.0 9.0 18.0 18.0 18.0

05 0526 Machinist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0528 Automotive Brake Mechanic 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0

0537 Administrative Assistant 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0541 Equipment Body Mechanic 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0

0542 Equip Elec Unit Mechanic 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0543 Equipment Electrician 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0545 Equipment Mechanic 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0

0548 Maintenance Technician 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0549 Maintenance Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0551 Elec Equipment Technician 10.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0

0566 Certified Welder 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0588 Material Handler Leader 2.0 2.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

0598 Material Mechanic Tech 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

06 0645 Asst Supervisor Section 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0683 Supervisor Warehouse 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

22 0721 Secretary I 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

24 1685 Inventory Specialist 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

25 1047 QA/Warranty Electrical 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1048 QA/Warranty Mechanical 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

1062 Vehicle Damage Estimator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1085 District Business Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 0837 Maintenance Planner 5.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0863 Mat Cont & Release Spec 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0874 Inventory Auditor/Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


0889 Material Planner 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

1258 Supervisor CBM 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

27 0753 Supervisor Elec Repair 3.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0883 Config Mgmt Eng Fac 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0884 Config Mgmt Eng Vehicles 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1050 Supervisor Performance 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1173 Supervisor Stores 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1251 QA/Warranty Administrator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1327 Equip Engineer Electrical 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1341 Engineer Bus Equipment 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

28 0759 Mgr Central Equipment 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0761 Manager Facilities 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0774 Manager Inventory 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1686 Manager of Electronic Repair 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

29 0768 Mgr Fleet Planning & Eng 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 0779 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 165.0 173.0 167.0 181.0 181.0

DIRECTORFLEET MANAGEMENT

30(1)

SECRETARY 122(1)

STENOGRAPHER308(1)

MANAGERFACILITIES

28(1)

MAINTENANCE LEADER

549(1)

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

548(3)

MAINTAINER458(3)

MAINTENANCE HELPER

358(2)

JANITOR141(4)

INVENTORY AUDITOR/ANALYST

26(1)

MANAGERINVENTORY

28(1)

MAT. CONTRACT & RELEASE SPEC.

26(2)

MATERIALS CLERK281(1)

MATERIAL PLANNER26(3)

SUPERVISOR - STORES

27(1)

SUPERVISOR - WAREHOUSE

683(2)

MAT. HANDLER STOCK CLERK

485(18)

MAT. HANDLER LEADER

588(7)

MANAGERCENTRAL EQUIPMENT

28(1)

EQUIPMENT MAINTAINER

447(4)

EQUIPMENT ELEC. UNIT MECHANIC

542(3)

MACHINIST526(1)

EQUIPMENT MECHANIC

545(11)

ASST. SUPERVISOR - SECTION

645(1)

HOSTLER347(2)

EQUIPMENT MECHANIC

545(1)

EQUIPMENT SERVICER

442(2)


447(11)

BODY MECHANIC446(4)

AUTO BRAKE MECHANIC

528(4)

UPHOLSTERER455(1)

EQUIPMENT BODY MECHANIC

541(11)

EQUIPMENT MECHANIC

545(4)

EQUIPMENT ELECTRICIAN

543(1)

ASST. SUPERVISOR - SECTION

645(1)

SUPERVISOR - ELECT. REPAIR

27(3)

VEHICLE DAMAGE ESTIMATOR

25(1)

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

404(1)

ENGINEERELECTRIC EQUIP.

27(2)

ENGINEER BUS EQUIPMENT

27(1)

MANAGER - FLEET ENGINEERING AND

QUALITY ASSURANCE29(1)

Q/A WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR

27(1)

Q/A WARRANTYELECTRICAL

25(1)

Q/A WARRANTYMECHANICAL

25(3)

ELECT. EQUIP. MAINTAINER

445(25)

ELEC. EQUIP. TECHNICIAN

551(12)

DISTRICT BUSINESSANALYST

25(1)

INVENTORY SPECIALIST

24(1)

MANAGER - ELECT. REPAIR

28(1)

SUPERVISOR - CBM26(1)



SUPERVISOR - PERFORMANCE

27(1)


447(2)


447(2)

AUTO BRAKE MECHANIC

528(1)

EQUIPMENT SERVICER

442(2)


PASS‐THRUS DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

Federal and State financial assistance is passed through the City of Brunswick for eligible transit projects.


The Pass Thrus provide support for the Authority and its customers to meet the Voice of the Customer objective of the

Strategic Plan.


Administered the agreement with the City of Brunswick (Brunswick Transit Alternative) and when necessary, the City

of Medina (Medina County Public Transit), to ensure that Federal and State Financial Assistance is passed through for

eligible projects.

Signed a new 2‐year agreement with Brunswick and Medina

2017 PRIORITIES

Administer the new agreement with the City of Brunswick and Medina

DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class



509100 Brunswick Operating Assistance 284,343 318,923 280,000 320,000

509107 Pass Through Medina – MCPT 370,000 63,160 0 0

Total 654,343 382,083 280,000 320,000


HAYDEN DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Hayden District is to provide safe, reliable, clean, and courteous public transportation for the eastern and

southeastern portions of the GCRTA service area.


Supporting the Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) for Achieve a State of God Repair and Achieve a Safety Culture, Hayden

operations impacts GCRTA’s ability to meet goals for Predictive Maintenance, Miles between Service Interruptions,

Preventable Collisions, On‐the‐Job Injuries, and Driver Behavior using DriveCam as a key tool.


Vital Few Objective (VFO): Completed the first twelve Predictive Maintenance Vehicles (210K) Mid‐Life

Vital Few Objective (VFO): Achieved 11,288 miles between service interruptions for the year

Achieved greater than 90% on‐time revenue vehicle mileage PM compliance rate

Achieved greater than 90% on‐time Facilities Maintenance on‐time compliance rate

Implemented the DriveCam Risky Driver Matrix training program to address risk associated with repeated undesirable driving behavior

Provided all increased service related to the Republican National Convention and Cavaliers Championship Parade

On boarded the new Assistant Transportation Manager to facilitate greater accountability in operator performance

2017 PRIORITIES

Implement Predictive Maintenance Program on the remaining HealthLine fleet and continue Predictive Maintenance Program on the Gillig fleet.

Complete remaining 12 HealthLine RTV Predictive Maintenance 210K Mid‐Life Overhauls.

Complete all Gillig Predictive Maintenance Services.

Achieve 10,000 Miles Between Service Interruptions.

Leverage the DriveCam Performance Monitoring System in order to achieve collisions and risky driving reductions.

Reduce Preventable Collision rate to RTA TEAM goal

Achieve vehicle cleanliness goal of 14 days between major cleans.


HAYDEN DISTRICT BUDGET

Object Class



501100 Operator Labor 23,497,749 22,127,777 22,118,714 22,462,405

50110 Operator Overtime 2,982,223 4,013,424 2,994,592 4,150,224

501200 Hourly Labor 5,690,754 5,780,341 5,226,673 5,682,853

501210 Hourly Overtime 702,437 307,912 235,984 472,057

501300 Labor Salaried Employees 1,145,143 1,173,036 1,281,036 864,157

501310 Overtime Salaried Employees 156,341 95,989 126,308 130,117

502000 Fringe Benefits 12,516,283 11,996,536 12,230,924 12,281,903

502071 W/C – Injuries & Damages 9,248 1,435 116 0

503000 Services 9,625 240,830 (116,537) 33,000

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 0 0 0 0


504021 Compressed Natural Gas 0 0 251,871 314,000

504050 Office Supplies 0 0 0 500



509022 Meals & Concessions 0 0 1,352 600

512000 Leases & Rentals 0 0 500 700

Total 46,833,173 45,847,425 44,449,583 46,528,075


HAYDEN DISTRICT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 0141 Janitor 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

1676 Mobile Clean Ambassador 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1677 Mobile Clean Ambassador PT 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

02 0203 Clerk / Typist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

03 0347 Hostler 21.0 21.0 21.0 20.0

0348 Hostler PT 11.0 11.0 9.75 11.0


04 0437 Operator 433.0 443.0 449.0 415.0

0438 Operator PT 62.0 45.0 45.0 42.0


0446 Body Mechanic 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0


0458 Maintainer 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0485 Material Handler/Stock Clerk 3.0 3.0 0.0 0.0

05 0535 Heating A/C Mechanic 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0


0547 Equipment Repair Leader 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0



0577 Dispatcher 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0


06 0646 Crew Chief 2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0

0647 Asst. Supervisor – Equipment 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0


27 1705 Assistant Equipment Manager 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

1088 Assistant Transportation Manager 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

28 0761 Manager – Facilities 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0851 Manager – Equipment 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

29 0786 Manager – Transportation 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


Total 618.5 611.5 613.3 576.5


TRISKETT DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Triskett District is to provide safe, reliable, clean, and courteous public transportation throughout the

GCRTA service area.


Supporting the Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) for Achieve a State of God Repair and Achieve a Safety Culture, Triskett

operations impacts GCRTA’s ability to meet goals for Predictive Maintenance, Miles between Service Interruptions,

Preventable Collisions, On‐the‐Job Injuries, and Driver Behavior using DriveCam as a key tool.


Aggressively worked with operators to reduce collisions, preventable collision rate YTD Nov at 1.19 below TEAM goal of 1.40

Monitor Drive Cam events and aggressively work with operators to reduce the frequency of events caused by risky behavior.

Reduced vehicle tows below goal of 15 per month (14 YTD Nov) by evaluating each tow and road call as not to duplicate towing

Achieved vehicle cleanliness goals of less than 14 days between interior washes (13.1)

Maintained and ensured on time service for the new CSU line.

Effectively Managed Overtime to cover staffing deficiency

Continued vehicle cleanliness goals

In serviced New Trolley Fleet

Entered service plans for New Trolley Fleet and 3200s into the Ultramain /Citme

Trained operator, hostlers and mechanics on New Trolley coaches

Vital Few Objective (VFO) Increase on time reliable service. Grow Passenger Satisfaction

Achieved 8,000+ miles between service interruptions throughout the year 2016

In Service new Trolley Fleet (12)

Support the RTA Mission, Vision, Values

Below are budget and staffing highlights of the Triskett District Department

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue to instill a Safety Culture orientation within all Operations Division organizational units.

Support participation in TransitStat program to reduce costs and improve the Authority’s business practices and services.

Reduce On‐The‐Job Injury Rate through analysis and follow through

Reduce Non‐Revenue accidents and continue to effectively manage Revenue collision rates

Continue to aggressively enforce energy conservation and sustainability initiatives.

Continue monitoring of Drive Cam Events.

Continue priority focus on improving customer communications and service delivery.

Support the Operations Division initiatives and projects as assigned.


TRISKETT DISTRICT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014 Actual 2015

Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget

501100 Operator Labor 15,425,028 14,946,020 15,351,224 15,996,436

501110 Operator Overtime 1,579,920 2,470,492 2,832,508 2,576,092

501200 Hourly Labor 4,124,459 4,340,804 4,272,085 4,187,267

501210 Hourly Overtime 574,560 226,432 336,359 380,981



502000 Fringe Benefits 8,502,003 8,306,509 9,092,595 9,004,035

502071 W/C – Injuries & Damages 3,519 3,650 1,405 0

503000 Services 36,098 65,958 53,567 32,300


504000 Materials & Supplies 89.633 88.841 68.016 77,600





512000 Leases & Rentals 0 0 400 1,000

Total 31,570,199 31,636,391 33,270,627 33,713,349


TRISKETT DISTRICT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 0141 Janitor 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

03 0347 Hostler 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0

0348 Hostler PT 13.0 13.0 13.25 15.0



0437 Operator 292.0 297.0 299.0 301.0

0438 Operator PT 44.0 30.0 30.0 30.0


0446 Body Mechanic 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


0458 Maintainer 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0485 Material Handler/Stock Clerk 3.0 3.0 0.0 0.0

05 0535 Heating/AC Mechanic 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0


0547 Equipment Repair Leader 6.0 5.0 5.0 5.0



0577 Dispatcher 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0


06 0646 Crew Chief 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0647 Asst Supervisor Equip 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0


27 1088 Asst Transportation Mgr 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

1705 Asst Equipment Mgt 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


0851 Manager Equipment 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0



Total 438.0 429.0 428.3 431.0


INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MISSION STATEMENT

The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Department manages and supports the Operations and Intelligent

Transportation Systems (ITS). ITS strives for continuous improvement and anticipates the needs of customers. ITS takes

ownership of and resolves issues. ITS is committed to delivering superior customer service while supporting the Authority’s

Mission, Vision, Values, and Strategic Plan.


Supporting the Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) for Voice of Customer through Enhancing Customer Experience and Increasing

Service Efficiency; and Continual Process Improvement through Achieving State of Good Repair and Advance and Improve

Technology.


Aggressively worked with operators to reduce collisions, preventable collision rate YTD Nov at 1.19 below TEAM goal of 1.40

Monitor Drive Cam events and aggressively work with operators to reduce the frequency of events caused by risky behavior.

Reduced vehicle tows below goal of 15 per month (14 YTD Nov) by evaluating each tow and road call as not to duplicate towing

Achieved vehicle cleanliness goals of less than 14 days between interior washes (13.1)

Maintained and ensured on time service for the new CSU line.

Effectively Managed Overtime to cover staffing deficiency

Continued vehicle cleanliness goals

In serviced New Trolley Fleet

Entered service plans for New Trolley Fleet and 3200s into the Ultramain /Citme

Trained operator, hostlers and mechanics on New Trolley coaches

Vital Few Objective (VFO) Increase on time reliable service. Grow Passenger Satisfaction

Achieved 8,000+ miles between service interruptions throughout the year 2016

In Service new Trolley Fleet (12)

Support the RTA Mission, Vision, Values

Below are budget and staffing highlights of the Triskett District Department

2017 PRIORITIES

ICC Modernization o Developed the ICC Modernization Strategic Plan o Mapped 25 SQ Processes o Performed SWOT Analysis and selected top 4 areas to complete o Implemented the TransitMaster Incident Report to replace the Access Database o Enhanced the operator canned messages o Installed base station radios at Woodhill o Implemented headsets for the ICC

Revenue/Ridership Reporting o Began managing the GenFare software o Purged the software of more than 1,000 stale records o Utilizing canned reports for maintenance

Real‐Time Information o Completed Bus Route Survey o Implemented process for stop updates o Purchasing GTFS Module


Other o Manage Paladin software in‐house o Paladin screen advertising o Replaced Paratransit Recorder (other districts in process) o Vehicle flash card upgrade o Audio advertising on buses/trains o Implemented Ultramain training program and Enhanced User/District Outreach o Implemented automated NTD trip generation

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class



501300 Labor Salaried Employees 0 0 296,816 550,595

501310 Overtime Salaried Employees 0 0 0 0

502000 Fringe Benefits 0 0 96,110 205,097

503000 Services 0 0 0 0

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 0 0 226,017 319,000

504000 Materials & Supplies 0 0 70,559 175,000


509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 0 0 20,330 600




Total 0 0 710,097 1,263,842

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

26 1691 ITS Specialist 0.0 0.0 5.0 6.0

1625 Operations Performance Leader 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0

28 1706 ITS Program Manager 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

29 1726 ITS Manager 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

Total 0.0 0.0 8.0 8.0

Department Budgets – Finance & Administration Division 141

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION DIVISION MISSION STATEMENT

As an integrated group of professions, the Finance and Administration Division contributes to the organizational success by

managing the financial resources of the Authority efficiently and in strict compliance with government regulations,

generally accepted financial management principles and Authority policies and by providing timely delivery of

administrative services to internal and external customers.

DIVISION STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL ISSUES AND INDICATORS

The Finance and Administration Division is responsible for the Authority’s financial management and critical support

functions. This Division performs financial management functions, accounting, financial reporting, cash management, debt

management, and passenger fare collection and processing. Other critical support functions are also performed, such as:

purchasing, contract administration, grants management, records management, mail, reproduction services, administrative

services, and outreach efforts for DBE contracting opportunities with the GCRTA.


Expedited procurement and delivery of goods and services to user departments utilizing a functional work team

structure.

Monitored procurement processes to reduce time required to process payments to vendors and employees by

revising the payments process and streamlining procedures.

Continued implementation of Fare Collection System.

Maintained and improved cash handling processes, fare collection security and vaulting process.

Received Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Annual Financial

Report (CAFR) from the Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA).

Assisted in the completion of the Single Audit.

Assisted in the implementation of the new Report Writer.

Administered the Authority’s Disadvantaged Business (DBE) Program, and developed 2016‐2018 DBE goal,

certified firms as DBE contractors and monitored compliance with federal regulations.

Managed the Authority’s Records Management Program.

Assisted with Energy Price Risk Management Program.

Administered 2016 Capital Grant Application process.

Completed sale of Sales Tax Supported Refunding Bonds.

Implemented process improvements within Finance & Administration Division.

2017 PRIORITIES

Implement process improvements that support the Authority’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Continue to expedite procurement and delivery of goods and services to user departments utilizing a functional

work team structure.

Continue to monitor procurement processes to streamline procedures.

Support and maintain Fare Collection System.

Continue to maintain and improve cash handling processes, fare collection security and vaulting process.

Prepare Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) conforming to the requirements outlined by the

Government Finance Officers' Association (GFOA).

Assist in the completion of the Single Audit.

Administer the Authority’s Disadvantaged Business (DBE) Program.

Assist departments in minimizing the Authority’s overall administration costs.


Continue management of Authority’s Records Management Program.

Continue to assist with Energy Risk Management Program.

Administer 2017 Capital Grant Application process.

Participate in management of Enterprise Business Suite Information Systems.

Implement process improvements within Finance & Administration Division.

Participate in development of Authority’s strategic initiatives.

LIST OF DEPARTMENTS


10 Office of Business Development

60 Accounting

62 Support Services

64 Procurement

65 Revenue


OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Office of Business Development is to engage, support, and assist the local disadvantaged business

community, and help ensure fair and representative participation in procurement opportunities at GCRTA within the

community at‐large.


<Support Procurement in Action Plan of improved specification writing to ensure dept. mission statement>


DBE Certifications

New Certifications 9

Re‐Certifications 56

On‐Site Certification Visits 26

Program Compliance

Contract Goal Setting 68

Project Field Monitoring 9

Certified Payrolls Reviewed 124

Outreach and Community Engagement

Hosted DBE Forum at Burk Lake Front on certification process and doing business with RTA

Participated on over 10 programs and panels related to DBE Certification and doing business with GCRTA

Attended well over 20 events designed to support, train and inform DBE firms and certifying agencies on contracting process and opportunities

2017 PRIORITIES

Administer GCRTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to include certification of firms as a DBE

contractor, establishing goals on contracts and ensuring compliance with Federal regulations.

Encourage strong business ties between GCRTA and women ‐ and minority‐owned firms by supporting avenues to

communicate procurement opportunities.

Increase the number of businesses, and overall spending that women‐ and minority‐owned firms represent in all

procurement opportunities including small purchases.

Assist and support women‐ and minority‐owned firms through sponsoring workshops, training, and information

sessions.

Encourage and monitor the utilization of women and minority workers on RTA construction projects to ensure

required participation levels are achieved.

Actively seek to identify and certify DBE firms.


OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Estimate 2017

Budget

501300 Labor Salaried Employees 251,604 290,181 294,175 296,571

501310 Overtime Salaried Employees (41) 0 0 0

502000 Fringe Benefits 97,331 111,083 115,595 110,473

503000 Services 0 0 250,000 250,000


504000 Materials & Supplies 1,051 4,125 0 200






Total 352,274 408,030 664,871 662,743

OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

22.A 0723 Secretary II 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

27.A 0879 Business Dev Specialist 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

30.A 0872 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0


ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Accounting Department is to maintain accurate and timely accounting records of the Authority, process

accurate voucher and payroll checks for both our internal and external customers, and develop, monitor, and maintain an

effective internal control system that safeguards the Authority’s financial assets.


The Accounting Department plays a key role in implementing Action Plans and ensuring TEAM Goals are met. Initiatives

include rate of audit compliance with various regulatory entities, and the progress rate of completing a myriad of process

improvement action plans.

These Action Plans include compliance and implementation of the Super‐Circular, maintaining Legal & Regulatory Updates,

a standardized process for financial management reconciliations between OMB and Accounting, and the standardized and

improved processes for collection of funds for contractual services and activities, and improved financial reporting.


Reduced time required to process payments to vendors and employees by revising the payments process and streamlining procedures.

Improved department performance to eliminate audit citations and expedite workflow

Prepared Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), conforming to the requirements outlined by the Government Finance Officers Association.

Completed the2015 Financial Audit.

Completed the Single Audit Report.

Received the Auditor of State Award of Distinction.

Completed Grant Reconciliations of Capital Grants.

Regular monthly closing and generation of internal use financial statements.

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue to reduce time required to process payments to vendors and employers by revising payment processes and streamlining procedures.

Continue to improve department performance to eliminate audit citations and expedite workflow.

Coordinate completion of the 2016 Financial Audit

Prepare and submit Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

Submit financial statements, footnotes and statistical tables to the Local Government Services (LGS)

Coordinate the completion of the 20165 Single Audit Report.

Complete Grant Reconciliations of Capital Grants.

Coordinate the purchase requisition approval process change to include the Accounting department.

Re‐evaluate the Oracle based expense report for travel as an online process

Continue efforts in improving and increasing internal financial reporting.

Continue to centralize contracts and agreements for leases and other revenue generating opportunities.


ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014

Actual 2015 Actual

2016 Estimate

2017 Budget



502000 Fringe Benefits 521,826 520,685 603,581 682,996

503000 Services 72,122 32,554 128,771 76,500

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 24,485 40,451 45,482 0





509022 Meals & Concessions 150 0 500 1,000


Total 2,255,371 2,196,511 2,506,322 2,651,942

ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

03 0382 Account Clerk 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

04 0499 Payroll Clerk 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

05 0587 Senior Accountant 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0


0757 Administrative Assistant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

24 1959 Financial Analyst 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

25 0765 Grants Writer / Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1080 Financial Accountant 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1080 Financial Accountant I 0.0 6.0 5.0 5.0

1725 Program Administrator/Financial Accountant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0857 Payroll Administrator 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

27 1162 Supervisor Accounts Payable 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1163 Supervisor Payroll 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1086 Financial Accountant II 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

28 1161 Supervisor General Accounting 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1670 Financial Modules Manager 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

29 1263 Cash Manager, Investment Officer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 1427 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

99 9941 DGM Finance & Administration 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 27.0 27.0 27.0 27.0


SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

To provide relevant, courteous, and timely “Quality” service to all of our internal and external customers in a manner

consistent with the GCRTA performance standards.


By the nature of its Mission, Support Services addresses strategic considerations for internal controls and process support

and improvements. Effective internal controls and process improvements lead by Support Services would include

automated printing processes, electronic documentation and records management, and revenue‐generating contract

opportunities for materials recycling and repurposing.


Developed Request for Proposal for Enterprise Content Management consultant.

Continued efforts in Records Management Program by updating GCRTA Records Retention Schedules and

coordinating the purging of obsolete records to reduce storage cost.

Provided printing services for timetables and other corporate printing needs including the Republican National

Convention, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Championship Parade, and Cleveland Indians playoff and World Series games.

Identified audio and visual equipment upgrades for the Board Room.

2017 PRIORITIES

Provide support services for the Authority.

Records Management Program – Continuous efforts to update GCRTA Records Retention Schedules; Convert to electronic system; coordinate purging of obsolete records to reduce storage cost.

Implement Enterprise Content Management System.

Manages the Authority’s mail service.

Reduce cost of support services by evaluation and assessment of current processes and needs relevant to postage, printing services, & office paper use. Coordinate efforts with all departments.

Provide printing service for timetables and other corporate printing needs.

Implement ways to optimize efficiency and educate with emphasis on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle congruent with our sustainability initiatives.

Provide high‐tech duplicating services, mail management, mail and package delivery to our facilities and other business establishments.

Provide other support services for the Authority; vending machine services, office furniture, office supplies.


SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class Description 2014

Actual 2015

Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget


501310 Overtime Salaried Employees 18 0 28 1,000

502000 Fringe Benefits 300,109 305,827 298,500 331,679

503000 Services 1,164 2,783 3,181 5,000



504050 Office Supplies 22,455 21,550 5,650 134,000


509020 Travel, Training & Conferences 0 0 0 100

509022 Meals & Concessions 84,370 90,130 83,785 96,250

512000 Leases & Rentals 49,961 33,969 99,938 89,000

Total 965,710 914,910 930,371 1,011,382

SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

03 0304 Support Services Clerk 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0

0395 Mailroom Clerk 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

04 0469 Mail Truck Driver 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0479 Dup Shop Machine Operator 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

05 0568 Lead Printer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

28 0868 Mgr Building Support Serv 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0


PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Procurement Department is to efficiently procure the Authority’s goods, services, and capital

improvements in a manner consistent with GCRTA Board Policy, Federal Regulations, State Law, and Generally Accepted

Business Practices, and to efficiently administer all purchases and service contracts.


Implementation of Procurement Policies and Procedures ensures the organization can achieve the Vital Few Objective to

Enhance Fiscal Responsibility. Adhering to Board Policy, Federal Regulations, State Law, and other best practices supports the

scorecard measure of progress and quality of Audits Completed and Compliance maintained. An Action Plan is in place to

improve the specification writing process to establish better evaluation and selection practices to procure goods, services, and

capital improvements for GCRTA.


Implemented I supplier

Perfect Triennial review

Implemented ne report writer

Saved $3,000,000

Processed 7,077 Purchase orders valued at $88,848,405.35

2017 PRIORITIES

Implement, monitor and improve procurement acquisition process to reduce procurement turnaround time.

Expedite procurement and delivery of goods and services to user departments utilizing a functional work team

structure.

Finalize the dashboard development for RTA.

Implement National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Department Accreditation.

Expand the use of P‐Card usage.

Implement new report writer and the development of new capabilities.

PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget


502000 Fringe Benefits 446,686 447,697 457,845 449,108

503000 Services 5,386 5,547 5,700 5,700

503020 Advertising Fees 17,434 16,689 17,632 16,500

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 14,600 (357) 0 0






Total 1,660,827 1,647,188 1,653,149 1,694,092


PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

04 0494 Word Processing Coord. 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1138 Project Supervisor 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0830 Assistant Contract 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

27 1160 Contract Administrator 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

1160 Contract Administrator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1171 Contr Admin Const & Eng 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

29 0787 Procurement Team Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0787 Procurement Team Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0787 Procurement Team Leader 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 1609 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 16.0 16.0 16.0 16.0


REVENUE DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Revenue Department is to maximize, collect, and safeguard passenger revenues from fare boxes, retail

outlets, automated, and non‐automated fare collection equipment. Other responsibilities include administering sales of fare

cards and passes, coordination of pass programs with various educational institutions, generating ridership reports, oversight of

all vending equipment, and the review and integration of new fare policies and collection techniques as they are adopted.


The Revenue Department plays a key role in achieving the Vital Few Objective to Enhance Fiscal Responsibility with impact on

the scorecard measure of Passenger Fares, which is a TEAM Goal. Excellent performance in this indicator has implications on

Operating Revenue, and correlates with Ridership and Customer Satisfaction.


Supported additional fare collection needs and distribution of specialty/commemorative passes for the Authority on

St, Patrick’s Day, during the NBA Playoffs and Finals, NBA Championship Parade, RNC, MLB Playoffs and World

Series and all Cleveland Browns home games.

Successfully implemented the U‐Pass program with several area colleges and the student pass program with the

Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

In conjunction with the support of the Information Technology department launched the pilot program for Mobile

Ticketing.

Assisted with the revised fare collection process with the closure of tracks at the Tower City Station.

On a monthly basis provided ridership numbers to the Marketing Department for distribution to the Executive Team.

Continue to work with other GCRTA departments and vendors on the implementation of the GFI/ACS fare collection

system.

Fielded and resolved numerous customer issues regarding the fare collection system.

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue to prepare employee transition plan to include, but not limited to, the assistance of an MDP team member.

Continue to work with both GFI and ACS toward the successful completion of the installation of the automated fare

collection equipment, software, and peripherals.

Ensure that fare‐cards and passes are available for distribution to outlets and the general public and work as intended.

Work on continuous improvement of the cash handling, fare collection equipment security, and the fare‐box vaulting

process.

Direct implementation of fare policies and continue to seek ways to improve education to the public.

Continue to streamline the process and agreement with Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Monitor activity of all TVM’s and CSK’s throughout the system and look for any abnormalities and report them to the

appropriate team members.

Support the Authority in their effort to streamline fare collection for special events.


REVENUE DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class Description 2014

Actual 2015

Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget



502000 Fringe Benefits 402,241 401,292 429,389 415,395

503000 Services 408,496 413,017 395,859 0




509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 5,736 5,477 765 1,500



Total 2,136,171 2,149,355 2,195,130 2,299,332

REVENUE DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 0110 Revenue Clerk 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

04 0489 Revenue Data Operator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0492 Money Handler 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

05 0592 Money Handler 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

26 0955 Supv Revenue Collection 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

27 0750 Revenue Control Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0832 Supervisor Computer Room 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 1429 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0

Department Budgets – Engineering & Project Management Division 155

ENGINEERING & PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

DIVISION MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Engineering and Project Management Division is to ensure the successful completion of capital

improvement projects through professional planning, design, right‐of‐way, and construction services.

DIVISION STRATEGIC PLAN CHANGE INITIATIVES & SCORECARD MEASURES

The Engineering and Project Management Division is responsible for RTA’s planning, real estate, and capital project design

and construction administrative activities. The Engineering Division plays a key support role to Asset & Configuration

Management in achieving goals for the Vital Few Objective (VFO) to Achieve a State of Good Repair (SoGR). Progress and

impact are measured by completion of SoGR priorities, and the change in the Asset Management Rating of all assets under

the scope of the Asset Management Program.


Completed replacement of the Tower City escalators prior to the RNC.

Completed the Tower City Track 7 Platform and Track 8 Reconstructions.

Completed the Red Line West 117th Street Track Rehabilitation.

Completed construction of the Warrensville Green Line Station ADA platforms.

Completed the East 81st and East 83rd Street Track Bridge Rehabilitations.

Completed construction of Phase 2 Green Line Grade Crossings‐Main St. (WFTL), Southington & West Park.

Completed construction of the Red Line over East Boulevard Bridge rehabilitation.

Completed construction of the Rail Car Wash Rack and Transfer Table projects.

Completed the design of the East 34th Street Station ADA Rehabilitation.

Completed design of Phase 3 Light Rail Grade Crossings‐Courtland Blvd. (Green Line), Kenmore Rd. and Onaway

Rd. (Blue Line).

Completed inspection, including underwater of the Central Viaduct Truss Bridge.

Completed Executive Summary for the Red Line / HealthLine Extension.

Continued construction of the Brookpark Station Rehabilitation.

Continued construction of the Triskett outdoor bus storage area.

Continued construction of the Hayden and CBMF CNG Building Modifications.

Began construction of the East 92nd Truss Bridge Rehabilitation over CSX Railway.

Began construction of the Light Rail Retaining Wall Rehabilitation – Phase 1.

Began construction of the Lee‐Shaker Station ADA Rehabilitation.

Began construction of the Mayfield Road Enhancements

Began the design of the Farnsleigh Station ADA rehabilitation.

Began inspections of Fracture Critical Bridges.

Began public art installation at the Brookpark Station reconstruction.

Received replacement proposals for West 65th, West 117th, and Puritas Substations.

Supported the activities of the Cuyahoga County Trails Leadership Network.

Promoted transit elements in various TLCI studies throughout Cuyahoga County.

Facilitate construction coordination with various ODOT and City of Cleveland projects.

Obtained ISO 14001 Recertification for the Central Bus Maintenance Facility.

Began the ISO 14001 documentation for Hayden and Triskett Bus Garages.

Obtained competitive OTPPP, CMAQ and Bridge grants from ODOT.


2017 PRIORITIES

Complete construction of the Brookpark Station Rehabilitation.

Complete construction of the Hayden and CBMF CNG Building Modifications.

Complete construction of the Lee‐Shaker Station ADA Rehabilitation.

Complete construction of the Mayfield Road Enhancements.

Complete construction of the East 92nd Truss Bridge Rehabilitation over CSX Railway.

Complete construction of deck replacement on E. 37th Bridge

Complete construction of the Light Rail Retaining Wall Rehabilitation – Phase 1.

Complete construction of Phase 3 Light Rail Grade Crossings‐Courtland Blvd. (Green Line), Kenmore Rd. and

Onaway Rd. (Blue Line).

Complete construction of the Triskett outdoor bus storage areas.

Complete construction of the ADA ramps on the Tower City Light Rail platforms.

Complete construction of repairs to Ambler Bridge.

Complete demolition of WB CRMF Access Bridge over Norfolk Southern.

Complete the replacement of Tower City Turnout #125 at the west end of Track 8.

Complete public art installations for the Brookpark Station and Clifton projects.

Complete Healthline (Euclid Ave.) to Red Line Fiber Optic Connection.

Complete design and construction of the Red Line West 30th to W. 98th Street Track Rehabilitation.

Complete design for West Park NS Diamond Crossing Diamond Removal.

Complete design for Buckeye‐Woodhill Bridge Track Restoration.

Complete design for Red Line Fiber Optic Communication System Replacement.

Complete design for the Light Rail Retaining Wall Rehabilitation ‐ Phase 2.

Complete design for Triskett Garage CNG Upgrades.

Complete the design of the Farnsleigh Station ADA rehabilitation.

Complete design for E. 116th Bridge Rehabilitation.

Complete Catenary Inspection Program and Signal System Evaluation.

Complete inspections of the Fracture Critical Bridges.

Begin construction of the East 34th Street Station ADA Rehabilitation.

Begin construction the East 116th St. Station.

Begin design of Tower City Track 10 and Track 13 Rehabilitation including associated platform work and Catenary

Sectionalization.

Begin design for Cuyahoga Viaduct Rehabilitation.

Begin replacement of the West 65th, West 117th, and Puritas Substations.

Support the activities of the Cuyahoga County Trails Leadership Network.

Promote transit elements in various TLCI studies throughout Cuyahoga County.

Continue supporting the ISO 14001 programs at CBMF, Hayden and Triskett.

Facilitate construction coordination with various ODOT and City of Cleveland projects.

Obtain competitive grants from FTA, ODOT, and NOACA.

LIST OF DEPARTMENTS


55 Project Support

57 Programming & Planning

80 Engineering & Project Development


PROJECT SUPPORT DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Project Support Department is to provide quality assurance oversight and program review services in

support of the Authority’s capital and development activities.


Supporting the Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) for Continual Process Improvement and Fiscal Responsibility. The Project

Support Department impacts GCRTA’s ability to achieve a State of Good Repair and Advance and Improve Technology, as

well as Enhancing Fiscal Responsibility by providing quality and safety oversight and program reviews of projects.


Completed (8) Quality Assurance / Safety Audits

Reviewed 23 Quality control Plans, Reports, and Specifications

Conducted 18 Field and Manufacturing site visits

Completed 2 major engineering audits

Held 11 Project meetings

Reviewed 7 Third‐Party plans

2017 PRIORITIES

Conduct quality assurance audits.

Review GCRTA plans and specifications for construction projects.

Review third party plans and specifications for construction crossing or adjoining GCRTA facilities.

Provide engineering assistance as needed.

Develop procedures to track on call service contracts.

Coordinate work of support staff.

Support the authority’s ISO 14001 efforts.


PROJECT SUPPORT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

PROJECT SUPPORT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Obj. Class Description 2014 Actual 2015 Actual 2016 Estimate

2017 Budget

501300 Labor – Salaried Employees 261,835 239,926 257,381 248,988


502000 Fringe Benefits 101,715 92,004 101,770 95,998

503000 Services 0 725 0 4,000

503049 Temporary Help 3,040 16,374 0 0



509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 1,291 759 1,100 300

509020 Travel & Conferences 0 0 0 650


Total: 387,726 367,990 366,882 370,336

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

06 0620 Drafter 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


24 0860 Project Assistant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

29 1439 Mgr. – Quality Assurance 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0


PROGRAMMING & PLANNING DEPARTMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Programming and Planning is responsible for initiating studies and long‐term projects designed to

maintain and improve transit ridership through project viability studies, joint venture identification, station area, and land

use planning. The Department is also responsible for the oversight of the Authority’s real estate property holdings, transit

waiting environment, arts‐in‐transit and sustainability programs.


Supporting the Vital Few Objectives (VFOs) for Voice of Customer (Expanding Advocacy and Enhancing Customer

Experience) and Continual Process Improvement (Achieving State of Good Repair and Advance & Improve Technology). The

Programming and Planning Department impacts GCRTA’s ability to meet goals for advocacy, public art, transportation

studies, and receiving competitive grants for the capital improvement program.


Completed 2 Planning Studies, 2 TWE Projects, and 3 Public Art Projects

Continued to represent RTA at UCI, NOACA, City of Cleveland Transportation Planning Projects, TLCI Projects

and others as requested

Executed the Strategic Plan while promoting development along Priority Corridors

Continued implementation of the Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) program

Continued implementation of new enhancement programs and projects

Submitted and received competitive capital grant for capital improvement program

Implemented 3 Public Art Projects and continued implementation of Public Art Program throughout RTA

Continued Environmental Compliance documentation including Section 106 for construction projects

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue representing RTA at UCI, NOACA, City of Cleveland transportation Planning Projects, TLCI Projects and

others as requested.

Execute Strategic Plan while promoting development along Priority Corridors.

Begin creating goals and implementation plan for upcoming Strategic Plan Update.

Continue implementation of the Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) Program.

Continue implementation of new enhancement programs and projects.

Continue implementation of the Public Art Program.

Submit competitive grants for capital improvement program funding.

Complete Environmental Compliance documentation including Section 106 for construction projects.

Analyze and create funding split allocations of Federal Formula Funds for the NOACA Transit Council.

Complete land acquisition for proposed construction projects, which include various Stations and Substations.

Continue marketing RTA real estate assets for lease, sale, and joint development activities.

Complete the Opportunity Corridor – Phase I enhanced Station Areas.


PROGRAMMING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget


502000 Fringe Benefits 104,237 115,939 120,129 121,585

503000 Services 18,392 10,850 16,705 26,300

504000 Materials & Supplies 686 524 200 0


507030 Property Taxes 108,505 160,298 269,350 482,477


509020 Travel & Conferences 0 0 0 3,200


512000 Leases & Rentals 122,092 118,624 85,239 122,568

Total 638,741 723,997 810,430 1,099,103

PROGRAMMING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

27 0838 Planning Team Leader 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

28 0794 Property Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 0788 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0


ENGINEERING & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

The Engineering & Project Development Department’s mission is to design and manage construction of the Authority’s

capital improvement and rehabilitation programs, safely, on budget, on schedule, as well as involvement in quality control,

and quality assurance services.


Implementation of the Engineering Projects and Project Development ensures that the Authority can achieve the Vital Few

Objectives for Fiscal Responsibility (Enhancing Fiscal Responsibility) through planning, design, and construction activities

for capital projects, as well as Continual Process Improvement through Achieving a State of Good Repair on the Authority’s

infrastructure and facilities.


E. 92nd Truss Bridge over CSX Railway (100% complete)

Tower City Escalator Replacement (100% complete)

Red Line Track Rehabilitation at W. 117th (100% complete)

ADA Reconstruction at E. 34th St. Station, Warrensville Green Line Station (100% complete)

Red Line Track Bridge over E. Boulevard Rehabilitation (100% complete)

Tower City Track 7 Platform and Track 8 Replacement (100% complete)

Light Rail Grade Crossing – Phase 2 (100% complete)

Hayden and CBMF CNG Building Modifications (90% complete)

Triskett CNG Building Modification Design (90% complete)

Brookpark Station Reconstruction (80% complete)

Replace deck of CRMF Access Bridge over E. 37th St. (20% complete)

Lee Shaker Station ADA Rehabilitation (10% complete)

2017 PRIORITIES

Manage design and construction of capital projects.

Provide project support, quality assurance, and program management services in support of capital projects and development activities.

ENGINEERING & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014

Actual 2015

Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget

501200 Hourly Employees 8,903 31,220 30,922 31,200


502000 Fringe Benefits 442,773 519,956 569,031 611,377

503000 Services 19,666 4,500 2,932 50,000




509020 Travel & Conferences 0 0 0 14,100

509022 Meals & Concessions 0 0 38.25 1,300

Total 1,740,312 2,005,907 2,109,457 2,372,608


ENGINEERING & PROJECT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 9942 Engineering Intern 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


0757 Administrative Assistant 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

27 1192 Construction Engineer 3.0 2.0 3.0 3.0

1509 Track Engineer 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

28 1250 Supt Construction 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1355 Resident Engineer 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0

29 0796 Manager Eng. Project 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

1660 Senior Mechanical Engineer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1329 Project Manager – Electrical 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1518 Senior Engineer – Signal 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

30 0789 Director – Engineering & Project Dev 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

99 9931 DGM Eng & Project Mgmt 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 19.0 19.0 20.0 20.0

Department Budgets – Legal Affairs Division 163

LEGAL AFFAIRS DIVISION MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Legal Affairs Division is to provide professional, cost‐effective legal, safety, and risk management

services, as well as ensure equal opportunity access and treatment to all stakeholders of the Authority.

DIVISION OVERVIEW

The Legal Affairs Division is comprised of the Legal, Safety, and Risk Management Departments, and the Office of Equal

Opportunity.

The Legal Department provides legal counsel and representation to the Board of Trustees and the Authority. Legal

represents the GCRTA on major projects, personal injury, property damage, employment, labor, civil rights, debt

collection, and contract matters. It also advises on procurement, general contract, real estate, personnel, liability, and

labor matters.

The Office of Equal Opportunity ensures EEO/ADA and workplace harassment policy compliance.

The Safety Department provides accident prevention, bus system safety, industrial safety, facilities, and rail system safety

program.

The Risk Management Department provides Workers’ Compensation, as well as insurance expertise for the Authority and

manages the purchases of both liability and property insurance consistent with GCRTA’s level of self‐insurance.


Provided efficient and cost‐effective legal representation in all GCRTA litigation, transactional, and administrative matters

Continued legal information program to apprise GCRTA departments of public sector legal issues that affect the Authority

Supported construction projects and energy management initiatives

Developed safety performance measures for managers and supervisors

Continued a proactive approach to reducing bus and rail incidents

Continued the management of the Authority’s EEO/ADA programs to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws regarding employment practices, facilities, and services

Continued to investigate allegations of discrimination or non‐compliance with equal opportunity policies and procedures

Supported the Authority’s Affirmative Action Plan

Worked to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and local legislation and regulations and served as a liaison between the Authority and regulatory agencies

Reduced Workers’ Compensation on‐the‐job injuries

Supported the implementation of MAP‐21 and ISO 14001 programs

Supported and enhanced the skills of the Claims employees through training opportunities

2017 PRIORITIES

Provide efficient and cost‐effective legal representation in all GCRTA litigation, transactional, and administrative matters

Continue legal information program to apprise GCRTA departments of public sector legal issues that affect the Authority

Support construction projects and energy management initiatives

Continue safety performance measures for managers and supervisors

Continue a proactive approach to reducing bus and rail incidents


Continue the management of the Authority’s EEO/ADA programs to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws regarding employment practices, facilities, and services

Continue to investigate allegations of discrimination or non‐compliance with equal opportunity policies and procedures

Continue to develop and monitor the Authority’s Affirmative Action Plan

Continue to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and local legislation and regulations and serve as a liaison between the Authority and regulatory agencies

Continue the implementation of the Workers’ Compensation Action Plan with a focus on strengthening and expanding the Remain‐At‐Work program

Continue to negotiate the best terms and conditions available in the marketplace and most cost‐effective renewal of GCRTA insurance programs

Continue to monitor data entry and reporting requirements

Support the implementation of MAP‐21 and ISO 14001 programs

Continue to update and improve our claims handling process

Continue to review the claims process and procedures to produce best practices

Continue to create a positive working environment that emphasizes teamwork and goal setting

Continue to enhance the skills of all Claims employees through training opportunities

LIST OF DEPARTMENTS


15 Safety Department

21 Legal Department

EEO/ADA

Claims

22 Risk Management Department

Workers’ Compensation


SAFETY DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The Safety Department’s Mission is to lead a proactive approach in decreasing On‐the‐Job injuries and preventable

collisions. The safety of our passengers, our employees, and the general public is always our top priority.


Implementation of Safety policies, procedures, and training ensures the Authority can achieve the Vital Few Objective of

Learning & Innovation to Achieve a Safety Culture. Through these practices and development of corrective actions, the Vital

Few Objective of Voice of the Customer of Enhancing the Customer Experience can be achieved.


Performed off‐shift inspections for a more comprehensive view of bus and rail safety evaluations

Provided training on TSI certification for Safety Department personnel

Enhanced safety procedures and training involving alternative fuels

Continued enhancement of a safety culture within the Authority

Developed corrective actions from audits and incidents

Assisted with implementation of ISO 14001 at Hayden and Triskett Districts

Determined areas for improvement in bus and audit bus similarly to rail

Continued participation of Safety and Security Certification of Rail Transit projects

Enhanced and provided safety efforts during the CAVS Championship games and parade, Republican National

Convention, and Indian’s Championship and World Series games

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue Safety procedures and training involving alternative fuels

Continue enhancement of a safety culture within the Authority

Develop corrective actions from audits and incidents

Continue assistance with ISO 14001 at Hayden and Triskett Districts

Identify areas of improvement with bus and bus audits

Continue performing off‐shift inspections of bus and rail safety evaluations

Continue participation of Safety and Security Certification of Rail Transit projects

Continue TSI certification and training of Safety Department personnel


SAFETY DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class



501200 Hourly Employees Payroll 1,773 19,133 275 25,125


501310 Overtime - Salaried Employees 1,900 2,351 3,106 0

502000 Fringe Benefits 152,876 177,700 186,801 187,035

503000 Services 124,040 150,685 146,257 67,800

503049 Temporary Help 0 18,900 18,664 0







Total 797,005 917,737 938,485 1,028,704

SAFETY DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017


23 1151 Safety Awareness Coordinator PT 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.8

1151 Safety Awareness Coordinator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

25 1085 Business Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1196 Transportation Safety Specialist II 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

27 0872 Manager of Safety 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 1443 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.8


LEGAL DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Legal Department is to provide comprehensive and effective legal services to the Authority including

representing the Authority in lawsuits, administrative and arbitration hearings, preparing legal opinions, documents, and

providing advice in labor negotiations.


Through legal counsel, EEO/ADA services, and claims processing, the Legal Department ensures the Authority can achieve the

Vital Few Objective of Learning and Innovation through Improving Employee Development and VFO Fiscal Responsibility

through Enhancing Fiscal Responsibility by providing comprehensive and effective services.


Provided legal service to the Authority including tort and contract claims; Workers’ Compensation cases and

associated lawsuits; Federal, State, and local administrative proceedings and hearings; grievance hearings, and labor

negotiations

Conducted training sessions on significant legal topics affecting the Authority

Conducted investigations on all EEO and ADA allegations

Provided legal support for all phases of development projects, land use, and acquisition

Provided legal support for the development, drafting, and revision of policies and procedures, including those for

Procurement, contract, and personnel forms

Provided legal services to the Authority for the Republican National Convention (RNC)

2017 PRIORITIES

Provide legal service to the Authority including tort and contract claims; Workers’ Compensation cases and

associated lawsuits; Federal, State, and local administrative proceedings and hearings; grievance hearings, and labor

negotiations

Conduct training sessions on significant legal topics affecting the Authority

Conduct investigations on all EEO and ADA allegations

Provide legal support for all phases of development projects, land use, and acquisition

Provide legal support for the development, drafting, and revision of policies and procedures, including those for

Procurement, contract, and personnel forms


LEGAL DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class



501200 Hourly Employees Payroll 26,359 21,377 29,791 31,200

501210 Hourly Overtime 0 0 6 0


501310 Overtime - Salaried Employees 345 3,295 4,643 4,125

502000 Fringe Benefits 448,553 601,030 665,846 667,723

503000 Services 154,245 153,688 181,064 131,000

503049 Temporary Help 32,814 24,576 103,290 0




506040 Liabilities & Property Claims 484,463 1,039,527 1,183,233 1,575,000




512000 Leases & Rentals 14,960 16,137 35,512 38,000

Total 2,420,062 3,524,130 3,917,594 4,419,342

LEGAL DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

01 9944 Legal Intern 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0



06 0603 Claims Investigator 3.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

23 0724 Legal Secretary 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

25 1675 Office Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1720 EEO & ADA Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 0876 Senior Adjuster 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

27 0773 Manager Claims 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

28 0880 Manager EEO/ADA 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

29 1440 Associate Counsel II 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0

30 1618 Deputy Counsel – Litigation 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1680 Deputy General Counsel 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

99 9951 DGM Legal Affairs 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 24.0 24.0 24.0 24.0


RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Risk Management Department is to protect the assets of the Authority from catastrophic losses through

risk identification and analysis, risk avoidance, mitigation, and risk transfer. The Department is also responsible for

managing the Authority’s property and casualty insurance and self‐insurance programs, and Workers’ Compensation.


Through risk identification and analysis, and well as managing the Authority’s insurance programs, the Risk Management

Department ensures the Authority can achieve the Vital Few Objective of Learning and Innovation through Improving

Employee Development and VFO Fiscal Responsibility through Enhancing Fiscal Responsibility by providing

comprehensive and effective services.


Provided Risk Management expertise to Legal, Procurement, and Engineering Departments for on‐going

construction projects and procurements

Held the focus on workplace injuries and the frequency and cost reductions, as well as the increased

accountability by District personnel

Negotiated the best terms and conditions available in the market place and most cost effective renewal for

property/casualty insurance programs for GCRTA

Continued Risk Assessment exercises for cyber liability risk exposures for the Authority via completion of

insurance application along with IT, other stakeholders and Casualty Insurance Broker

Worked with Casualty Insurance Broker to finalize W/C and Liability Claim audits and implement

recommendations for improvement of W/C and Liability claim processes and results to ensure alignment with

industry best practices

Provided risk assessment services to the Authority for the Republican National Convention (RNC)

2017 PRIORITIES

Provide Risk Management expertise to Legal, Procurement, and Engineering Departments for on‐going

construction projects and procurements

Hold the focus on workplace injuries and the frequency and cost reductions, as well as the increased

accountability by District personnel

Negotiate the best terms and conditions available in the market place and most cost effective renewal for

property/casualty insurance programs for GCRTA

Complete Risk Assessment exercises for cyber liability risk exposures for the Authority via completion of

insurance application along with IT, other stakeholders and Casualty Insurance Broker

Work with Casualty Insurance Broker to finalize W/C and Liability Claim audits and implement recommendations

for improvement of W/C and Liability claim processes and results to ensure alignment with industry best

practices


RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014

Actual 2015

Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget

501200 Hourly Employees Payroll 4,848 922 2,914 49,000


501310 Overtime - Salaried Employees 5,084 24 51 1,375

502000 Fringe Benefits 272,994 189,073 187,412 209,205

502071 W/C – Injuries & Damages 1,148,095 1,200,000 925,413 1,300,000

502082 W/C – Medical Payments 653,910 800,000 535,890 1,000,000

503000 Services 497,759 314,125 176,784 299,500

503030 W/C Administration Fee 372,300 341,757 397,537 399,504

503049 Temporary Help 96,667 8,186 13,310 0



506000 Casualty & Liability Costs 345,897 361,996 449,633 454,691

506010 Physical Damage Insurance 618,348 571,522 543,825 683,082

506040 Liability & Property Claims 1,087,269 0 (450) 0

506200 W/C – Settlement & Lawsuit Expense 160,547 215,000 62,000 215,000

509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 22,167 4,043 2,850 285



Total 5,997,252 4,497,099 3,763,024 5,131,006

RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

03 0322 Workers’ Comp Clerk 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


25 0885 Risk Analyst I 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1627 RTW – Transitional Coordinator 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.8

26 0905 Risk Analyst II 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1165 Workers’ Comp/Dis Claim Examiner 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

30 0771 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 8.5 8.5 8.8 8.8

Department Budgets – Human Resources Division 173

HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION MISSION STATEMENT

The Human Resources Division provides personnel services, benefits, compensation, labor, and employee relations, training,

and employee development to support the Authority.

DIVISION STRATEGIC PLAN CHANGE INITIATIVES & SCORECARD MEASURES

The Human Resources Division champions the VFO to Improve Employee Development, as a component of Strategic Focus

Area for Innovation & Learning. This includes regular improvements, management, and reporting on Employee Satisfaction

& Engagement, Employee Performance Management, Workforce Turnover and Training, Attendance, completed trainings,

and on‐time completion of Performance Evaluations across the workforce. The key Change Initiative addresses continued

development and improvements to the Succession Planning Program, where promotion, skill development, and better tools

for evaluation are established and monitored.


Successfully completed Public Transit Management Academy Cohort Four (30 Employees, six Group Projects

Completed) as part of the FTA Ladders of Opportunity‐ Innovative Workforce Development Grant.

Successfully completed Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Training (19 employees, four group projects

completed) as part of the Lean Ohio Local Government Efficiency Program Grant.

Developed and implemented the Midwest Transit Leadership Exchange with eight transit agencies from Ohio,

Pennsylvania, and New York to promote best practices for succession planning and leadership development.

Implemented University Hospital HMO plan design option for employees.

Launched Employee Promotability Pilot class enhancing job search and interview skills in an effort to increase

internal promotions.

Continued to track and monitor attendance trends and comply with revised Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA),

thereby reducing absence duration and lowering employer costs. Implemented Kronos FMLA tracking module.

Continued enhancements of Oracle Standard Benefits and Employee Self‐Service modules to provide policy

information and decision support information to employees and managers in a timely fashion.

Continued Positive Discipline and Labor Relations supervisory training.

Continued the development of the HR Business Partner model to include the expansion of individual HR job

responsibilities to provide prompt, efficient, and personalized service to the operating districts.

Continued high potential Succession Planning Program where 5 out of 16 applicants were selected. Participants

continue with execution of individual development plans.

2017 PRIORITIES

Begin Negotiations for a cost effective contract with the FOP and ATU.

Launch 2nd Succession Planning Program selection process for potential participants

Complete second group of process maps identified as a part of the Process Mapping Initiative

Continue performance appraisal/management enhancements, including adding the use of digital signatures and piloting an appraisal review board concept

Review and recommend changes to Non‐Bargaining Salary Structure and Compensation Plan

LIST OF DEPARTMENTS


14 Human Resources

18 Labor & Employee Relations

30 Training & Employee Development


HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The Human Resources Department provides personnel services, benefits, wellness, and compensation to support the

Authority.


The Human Resources Department plays a critical role in achieving the VFO for Improve Employee Development. Key

strategies for recruitment and retention have significant impact on the Change Initiative for Development and Succession

Planning across all workforce segments. Partnering with Training & Employee Development, Human Resources is charged

with monitoring turnover, defining capability & capacity needs, and information action plans to improve bench strength

throughout the workforce.


Implemented University Hospital HMO plan design option for employees

Continued enhancements of Oracle Standard Benefits and Employee Self‐Service modules to provide policy

information and decision support information to employees and managers in a timely fashion

Continued the development of the HR Business Partner model to include the expansion of individual HR job

responsibilities to provide prompt, efficient, and personalized service to the operating districts

Continued high potential Succession Planning Program where 5 out of 16 applicants were selected. Participants

continue with execution of individual development plans

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue to explore and implement improvements to the performance management process for non‐represented personnel, to include but not limited to: continued alignment with Mission, Vision, Values and Vital Few Objectives.

Continue development of the HR Business Partner to include the expansion of individual HR job responsibilities, to provide prompt, efficient, and personalized service to the Operating Districts.

Continue to partner with directors, managers, and supervisors to implement succession planning activities that prepare employees to fill future leadership positions (e.g. Management Development Program).

Continue development and monitoring of Oracle system security plan and enhancing Quality Assurance metrics.

Continue training for Oracle HRMS, Kronos, and EIS users in the areas of reporting, data analysis, metrics, and increased functionality.

Achieve optimal Operator staffing levels to improve service.

Continue increasing HR’s visibility throughout Authority.

Increase recruitment outreach activities by attending at least two events per month on average.

Streamline process of filling vacancies by eliminating redundancies and non‐value added activities.

Continue to improve new hire orientation and onboarding practices of new employees

Continue the implementation and improvements of succession planning initiatives to include, but not limited to: the Career Pathways Program, Management Development Program, Signals Training Consortium, Rail Car Training Consortium and Apprenticeships and Midwest Transit Leadership Exchange.


HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT BUDGET

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Obj. Class Description 2014 Actual

2015 Actual

2016 Estimate

2017 Budget

501200 Hourly Employees 0 80,266 97,044 264,900

501204 Hourly Employees/Light Duty Wages 91,299 3,500 0 60,000

501210 Overtime – Hourly Employees 298 236 0 0

501300 Labor – Salaried Employees 1,031,278 1,052,672 934,869 1,093,889

502000 Fringe Benefits 381,036 399,325 385,353 528,499

503000 Services 242,992 247,297 149,313 159,000

503020 Advertising Fees (8,339) 12,473 10,951 20,000

503049 Temporary Help 27,676 22,520 (32) 0



509020 Travel and Conferences 0 0 0 6,850


Total: 1,794,106 1,849,070 1,615,298 2,166,889

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017


24 1636 Talent Management Coordinator 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0

25 1081 Business Analyst 4.0 5.0 4.0 4.0

1640 HR Business Partner 4.0 4.0 5.0 4.0

26 1624 HR Performance Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1690 HRIS Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1700 Benefits Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

27 0904 HRIS Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

28 0842 Mgr Employment & Recruitment 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0844 Benefits Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 1444 Director of Employment & Recruitment 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

99 9971 DGM Human Resources 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 16.0 17.0 17.0 17.0


DIRECTOR - EMPLOYMENT & RECRUITMENT

30(1)

MANAGER - BENEFITS 28(1)

HUMAN RESOURCES INFO. SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

28(1)

HR BUSINESS PARTNER25(4)

DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGERHUMAN RESOURCES

99(1)

BUSINESS ANALYST(MDP)

25(4)

HR PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST

26(1)

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

23(1)

BENEFITS SPECIALIST26(1)

HRIS SPECIALIST26(1)

TALENT MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR

24(1)


LABOR AND EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Labor & Employee Relations Department is to build and support the continuous relationship between labor

unions and the Authority. The Department also administers the Benefits/ Wellness and Occupational Health programs of the

Authority to promote attendance and the well‐being of all employees.

STRATEGIC PLAN CHANGE INITIATIVE & SCORECARD MEASURES

Labor & Employee Relations supports the Improve Employee Development VFO in managing the TEAM Goals of Attendance.

Attendance is reported monthly as an Authority‐wide percentage, and is tracked by workforce segment (verify).


Continued to track and monitor attendance trends and comply with revised Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA),

thereby reducing absence duration and lowering employer costs

Implemented Kronos FMLA tracking module

Continued Positive Discipline and Labor Relations supervisory training

Continued preparations for 2017 union negotiations with FOP and ATU

Administered unemployment compensation benefits process and monitored funds

Ensured Operators received biennial exams prior to the expiration

Performed drug tests and alcohol tests on safety‐sensitive employees

Administered Drug & Alcohol policies and processed all FMLA requests

Implemented Get Fit Wellness Program and increased wellness education

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue development of a long‐term strategic plan to continue to lower healthcare costs and optimize benefits design and wellness activities

Provide advice, training, and counsel to managers, supervisors, and employees on discipline, grievances, policies, contracts, and labor laws

Negotiations with both unions

Serve as last step grievance hearing officer, prior to arbitration

Administer unemployment compensation benefits process and monitor funds

Ensure Operators receive biennial exams prior to their expiration

Perform drug tests on at least 25% and alcohol tests on at least 10% of safety‐sensitive pool

Administer Drug & Alcohol policies and process all FMLA requests

Continue to enhance performance management under the Positive Discipline Policy through training and communication

Chair or facilitate various Labor Management committees

Continue to engage employees with the Get Fit Wellness Program and increase wellness education, e.g. toolbox wellness information

Continue development of a long‐term strategic plan to continue to lower healthcare costs and optimize benefits design and wellness activities

Continue to administer and monitor the on line uniform ordering process

Continue to ensure compliance with ACA

Review possible updates to RTA’s Section 125 Plan

Provide FMLA Training to Supervisors


LABOR & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014

Actual 2015

Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget


502000 Fringe Benefits 93,778 109,461 118,476 146,489

502070 Unemployment Compensation 75,855 80,887 99,414 300,000

503000 Services 264,402 360,789 360,301 140,000

503049 Temporary Help 0 0 (7,289) 0


504000 Materials & Supplies 495 1,654 1,549 0





Total 759,699 907,496 934,213 1,288,533

LABOR & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

22 0721 Secretary I 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

25 0899 Occupational Health Specialist 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

26 0902 Labor & Employee Relations Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1963 Wellness Coordinator 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 1342 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 5.0 6.0 6.0 6.0


TRAINING AND EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT


The mission of the Training & Employee Development Department is to provide growth and development opportunities for

all GCRTA employees by improving their skills, knowledge, and abilities in support of the Authority’s goals.


Training & Employee Development plays a critical role in achieving a variety of metrics around Learning & Innovation and

obtaining goals for the Vital Few Objective of Improving Employee Development. The key Change Initiative is the continued

development of the Succession Planning program, to include projects that address the promotion process, improving “bench

strength”, and improving the Non‐Bargaining Performance Management & Evaluation process.

Training & Employee Development has in place a “Promotability Training” course, supports the Director of Employment &

Recruiting with the Employee Satisfaction & Engagement Survey, Performance Management Evaluations, and maintains key

training programs for the GCRTA workforce.


Successfully completed Public Transit Management Academy Cohort Four (30 Employees, 6 Group Projects) as part

of the FTA Ladders of Opportunity – Innovative Workforce Development Grant

Successfully completed Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Training (19 employees, 4 Group Projects) as part of

the Lean Ohio Local Government Efficiency Program Grant

Developed and implemented the Midwest Transit Leadership Exchange with 8 Transit Agencies from Ohio,

Pennsylvania, and New York to promote best practices for succession planning and leadership development

Launched Employee Promotability Pilot class enhancing job search and interview skills in an effort to increase

internal promotions

2017 PRIORITIES

Continue the deployment of workforce engagement initiatives through employee engagement survey and action plans for improved organizational communication

Continue the implementation of technology and experiential learning to enhance employees training experiences in the classroom, field, and on the job.

Continue the implementation and improvements of succession planning initiatives to include, but not limited to: the Career Pathways Program, Management Development Program, Signals Training Consortium, Railcar Training Consortium and Apprenticeships and Midwest Transit Leadership Exchange.

Implement Operator Mentoring Program.

Development and Implementation of management and supervisory skills training.


TRAINING & EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

TRAINING & EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

05 0511 Assistant Operating Instructor 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.0

06 0611 Operating Instructor 9.0 9.0 11.0 11.0

0612 Vehicle Maintenance Instructor 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0

25 1658 Training Coordinator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1194 Safety Trainer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1619 Travel Trainer 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

1622 Power/Way Rail Trainer 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.0

1631 Rail Ops Ctr Trainer 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1631 Service Quality Trainer 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

28 0870 Manager Oper/Maint Training 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0886 Manager Training Rail Oper 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

30 1430 Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 26.0 26.0 28.0 28.0

Obj. Class

Description 2014 Actual

2015 Actual

2016 Estimate

2017 Budget

501200 Hourly Employees 1,306 2,637 32,148 96,000



502000 Fringe Benefits 640,753 683,933 787,330 761,642

502148 Tuition Reimbursement 51,205 79,937 80,000 80,000

503000 Services 36,000 261,085 251,700 91,700

503049 Temporary Help 0 0 (3,951) 0

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 0 0 2,654 260,350




509020 Training & Conferences 0 0 0 5,225

509022 Meals and Refreshments 0 16 750 1,500

Total: 2,685,388 3,138,297 3,435,538 3,862,000

Department Budgets – Executive Division 183

EXECUTIVE DIVISION MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of the Executive Division is to plan, execute, and manage the efficient, effective, safe, and courteous delivery of

quality public transportation services to the residents of Greater Cleveland.


The Executive Division drives the Vital Few Objective to Expand Advocacy and Enhance Customer Experience. Growing

advocacy efforts requires engaging newly elected leaders, educating ridership on the value and benefits of public

transportation, and engaging communities and partners through the Speaker’s Bureau.

The Executive Division is responsible for the overall management of the organization, including strategic leadership, finance,

operations, human resources, marketing, media and government relations, planning, project management, and engineering.


STRONG FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Finished the year $18 million better than budget, with an ending balance of $24 million.

Had a “clean” audit and received the Auditor of State’s Award with Distinction.

Completed a successful FTA Triennial Review.

Awarded a grant from Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to purchase and deploy 12 new Trolley buses in time for the Republican National Convention (RNC).

Placed orders for 43 additional CNG buses, which when in service, will further reduce fuel costs and improve service reliability.

Received Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Award for Certificate of Achievement for Excellence for the 28th consecutive year.

GCRTA SUCCESS WITH REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION (RNC)

Recognized as a critical regional asset that was significant to the site‐selection decision to host the RNC.

Provided outstanding service to 50,000 national delegates and guests during the RNC.

Worked with the City to complete public art installations (inter‐urban) along rail lines.

Completed the total replacement of the four escalators in Tower City prior to the start of the convention.

CUSTOMER SAFETY AND SECURITY

Received two Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) grants to develop collision avoidance technology to enhance pedestrian safety.

Received US Department of Defense awards in recognition of RTA’s emergency transportation plan.

Recorded outstanding achievements by Transit Police as we realized a significant drop in serious crimes, continuing a three‐year trend.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Received accolades from customers, civic partners, and the media for outstanding service during the CAV’s parade day, the highest known ridership day in RTA history.

Served Cleveland Indians fans during an outstanding MLB regular season, playoff games, and World Series games.

Launched a Mobile Ticketing pilot program in time for the RNC and the MLB post‐season.

Significantly improved “Real‐Time” customer information through the “Transit App”.


INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

Opened the modernized and ADA‐compliant Warrensville Station on the Green Line.

Continued construction of the ADA‐compliant Brookpark Station on the Red Line.

Began construction of the ADA‐compliant Lee Road Station on the Green Line.

Completed the reconstruction of Tower City’s Track 8, without rail service interruptions.

Worked with ODOT to upgrade the E. 105 Street Station as part of the Opportunity Corridor project.

Began construction on enhanced pedestrian access to the Little Italy – University Circle Station.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Submitted the second application for the Baldrige Award in support of process improvements and organizational excellence.

Maintained ISO certification for the Central Bus Maintenance Facility, and completed nearly 45 percent ISO 14001 certification at Triskett and Hayden Facilities.

Completed the Annual Sustainability Report per Global Reporting Initiative G4 Standards.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Received the Commission on Economic Inclusion’s Commission 50 Award, as well as the Workforce Diversity Award.

Re‐appointed Joe Calabrese to the USDOT Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Advisory Committee by Secretary Anthony Foxx.

Graduated 30 employees from the Public Transit Management Academy (PTMA) at Cleveland State University (CSU).

Received the Three‐Star Ohio Green Fleet Award from Clean Fuels Ohio for work to improve air quality and health, reduce pollution, and strengthen Ohio’s economy.

2017 PRIORITIES

Support and drive the Mission, Vision, and Values of the Authority

Continue to improve the Balanced Scorecard Vital Few Objectives: o Fiscal Responsibility o Voice of the Customer o Continual Process Improvement o Learning & Innovation

Investigate additional strategies to increase our productivity and reduce costs

Identify additional funding for infrastructure needs and state of good repair initiatives

Deliver a creative marketing plan to promote the RTA and maximize ridership

Continue our positive relationship with civic leaders, elected officials, and the media

Continue to educate about the benefits of public transit and RTA

Encourage Transit Supportive Developments

Focus on Employee Development and Succession Planning programs

LIST OF DEPARTMENTS


12 Executive Department

16 Secretary/Treasurer ‐ Board of Trustees

19 Internal Audit

53 Marketing & Communications

61 Information Technology

67 Office of Management & Budget

99 Fund Transfers


EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

Under the direction of the CEO/General Manager, it is the responsibility of the Executive Staff to implement the policies

and mandates established by the GCRTA Board of Trustees, and develop and work towards the achievement of the

Authority’s Strategic Plan, Balanced Scorecard initiatives, and Vital Few Objectives.


The Executive Department drives the Vital Few Objectives to Expand Advocacy and Enhance Customer Experience.

Growing advocacy efforts requires engaging newly elected leaders, educating ridership on the value and benefits of public

transportation, and engaging communities and partners through the Speaker’s Bureau.


Finished the year $18 million better than budget, with an ending balance of $24 million


Completed a successful FTA Triennial Review



Worked with the City to complete public art installations (inter‐urban) along the rail lines

Completed the total replacement of four escalators in Tower City prior to the start of the convention

Received U.S. Department of Defense awards in recognition of RTA’s emergency transportation plan


Served Cleveland Indians’ fans during an outstanding MLB regular season, playoff games, and World Series games

Launched a Mobile Ticketing pilot program in time for the RNC and the MLB post‐season

Significantly improved “Real‐Time” customer information through the “Transit App”

Submitted the second application for the Baldrige Award in support of process improvements and organizational excellence

Maintained ISO certification for the Central Bus Maintenance Facility, and completed nearly 45 percent ISO 14001 certification at Triskett and Hayden Districts



Received the Three‐Star Ohio Green Fleet Award from Clean Fuels Ohio for work to improve air quality and health, reduce pollution, and strengthen Ohio’s economy

2017 PRIORITIES

Implement policies and procedures to maintain critical services

Maximize ridership

Continue sales‐focus transition of the Authority

Achieve: o Revenue increase in passenger fares o Performance improvements in safety o Performance improvements in number of miles between service interruptions o Performance improvements in on‐time performance o Decrease in employee unscheduled absences

Continue culture change efforts with focus on identifying efficiencies and better practices to improve customer service

Promote policies at the local, state, and federal levels that support transit

Develop and implement a strategy to bring discretionary dollars at both state and federal levels to the Authority


Develop strong working relationships with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels

Support increases of transit dollars during budget cycles at both the state and federal levels

Cultivate contacts with civic, business, and community leaders and groups

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget


502000 Fringe Benefits 204,388 186,587 215,027 195,412

503000 Services 14,758 2,876 (2,822) 16,000

503049 Temporary Help 2,800 8,497 0 0

504000 Materials & Supplies 913 1,561 916 0




509022 Meals & Concessions 221 3,823 2,211 22,500

Total 875,401 818,978 861,134 945,609

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

23 0711 Secretary to GM/Sec Treasurer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0725 Executive Secretary 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

27 0862 Government Relations Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1330 External Affairs Administrator 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

99 9929 General Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0


SECRETARY/TREASURER – BOARD OF

TRUSTEES DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the appointed Board of Trustees is to establish the policies and mandates that direct the Authority’s on‐

going goals and objectives. Additionally, the Secretary/Treasurer is responsible for the preservation of the Authority’s

records, safeguarding of its assets, and the cash investment program.


The Secretary/Treasurer – Board of Trustees Department assists the Authority in overseeing the Vital Few Objective to

Expand Advocacy and Enhance Customer Experience. Growing advocacy efforts requires engaging newly elected leaders,

educating ridership on the value and benefits of public transportation, and engaging communities and partners.








2017 PRIORITIES

Secure and complete independent outside audit of the Authority

Enforce policies on governance and demand accountability from management and staff

Achieve the maximum rate of return on investments consistent with policy guidelines

Continue legislative and policy‐making role: achievement of key policy goals for the Authority and development of policies that result in quality, cost‐effective services that meet the needs of residents and visitors to the Greater Cleveland area

SECRETARY/TREASURER – BOARD OF TRUSTEES DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget


502000 Fringe Benefits 48,038 36,685 38,557 36,798

503000 Services 103,355 91,707 100,881 113,000

504000 Materials & Supplies 13,656 745 700 900





Total 313,410 249,616 272,784 287,736


SECRETARY/TREASURER – BOARD OF TRUSTEES DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

23 0725 Executive Assistant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

99 9901 Board Member 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

Total 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0


INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

Internal Audit is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve the

Authority’s operations. The Department helps the Authority accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined

approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes


The Internal Audit Department helps to oversee and drive the Strategic Plan and Vital Few Objectives throughout the

Authority through evaluation and audits.


Established a risk‐based Audit Plan aligned with the GCRTA Strategic Plan and Vital Few Objectives

Evaluated the reliability and integrity of information

Evaluated the means of safeguarding assets

Evaluated the systems and processes established to ensure compliance with policies

Provided assurance and advisory services

Coordinated and follow‐up with internal and external audits and 3rd party reviews

Provided resources to management on steering committees, evaluation panels, performance management forums and task forces

2017 PRIORITIES

Establish a risk‐based Audit Plan for 2017 aligned with the GCRTA Strategic Plan and Vital Few Objectives

Continue evaluating the reliability and integrity of information

Continue evaluating the means of safeguarding assets

Continue evaluating the systems and processes established to ensure compliance with policies

Provide assurance and advisory services

Coordinate and follow‐up with internal and external audits and 3rd party reviews

Provide resources to management on steering committees, evaluation panels, performance management forums and task forces

INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget

501200 Hourly Employees Payroll 0 5,880 223 9,600


502000 Fringe Benefits 187,289 171,902 185,806 197,438

503000 Services (64,197) 18,211 (34,633) 101,500

503049 Temporary Help 0 0 (357) 0

504000 Materials & Supplies (537) 1,600 1,293 1,000


509000 Miscellaneous Expenses (4,829) 19,673 9,060 10,600



Total 604,734 660,292 615,841 858,441


INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

22 0721 Secretary I 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

27 0957 Staff Auditor 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

28 1202 Information Technology Auditor 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1261 Senior Auditor 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

31 1522 Executive Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0


MARKETING & COMMUNICATION


The mission of the Marketing & Communications Department is to direct the overall marketing strategies of the Authority,

coordinate and communicate transit issues to the general public and media, and support and enhance customer

relationships.


Implementation of the Marketing Plan ensures the Authority can achieve the Vital Few Objectives of Voice of Customer,

specifically Enhance the Customer Experience and Increase Service Efficiency.


Provided outstanding service to 50,000 national delegates and guests during the RNC

Received numerous accolades from customers, civic partners, and the media for outstanding service during the CAV’s Championship games and parade, which held the highest known ridership day in RTA history

Served Cleveland Indians’ fans during an outstanding MLB regular season, playoff games, and World Series games

Launched a Mobile Ticketing pilot program in time for the RNC and the MLB post‐season

Significantly improved “Real‐Time” customer information through the “Transit App”

Developed marketing strategies to support the Authority’s Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision, and Values

Developed and conducted a series of research programs to gauge customer satisfaction

Maximized revenue sources including transit advertising, asset sponsorship and on‐site vending opportunities

Continued to establish and nurture relationships with transit coalition partners, including business and community leaders and elected officials

2017 PRIORITIES

Deliver a creative marketing plan to promote the Authority and maximize ridership, while focusing on the Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision, and Values

Continue to establish and nurture relationships with transit coalition partners, including business and community leaders and elected officials

Continue to educate about the benefits of public transit and RTA

Encourage Transit Supportive developments

Continue to conduct research programs to gauge customer satisfaction

Assess the effectiveness of current internal communications and develop strategies to improve employee directed communications


MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class


Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget

501200 Hourly Employees Payroll 14,316 225 27,028 42,078



502000 Fringe Benefits 597,553 626,437 615,143 645,132

503000 Services 217,238 166,717 135,028 200,503

503020 Advertising Fees 840,636 872,317 878,521 879,500

503049 Temporary Help 7,898 0 0 0



509000 Miscellaneous Expenses 16,630 5,829 10,312 900



512000 Leases & Rentals 5,761 7,284 8,987 15,000

Total 3,284,195 3,348,839 3,254,091 3,517,377

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

03 0365 Customer Service Rep 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

0371 Telephone Operator/Info Clerk 11.0 11.0 11.0 11.0

04 0472 Information Clerk/Teller 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

06 0625 Layout Assistant 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

23 0740 Marketing Associate 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1650 Marketing Assistant PT 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

25 0713 Publications Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0831 Community Relations Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0966 Assistant Supervisor Telephone Info 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1067 Assistant Supervisor Customer Service 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

1085 Business Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

26 1061 Supervisor Marketing Dev 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1184 Supervisor Telephone Info Ctr 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1246 Supv Customer Service Center 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0

27 0859 Sales Manager/Sales Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

28 1144 Manager Media Relations 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0


Total 29.0 29.0 30.0 30.0


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Information Technology Department is to partner with all internal divisions to enhance the efficiency and

reliability of GCRTA’s services to its employees and customers through innovative, quality technology solutions.


The Information Technology Department is focused on maintaining a reliable information systems infrastructure, replacing

necessary assets and components as dictated by various asset lifecycles. To monitor improvement, the IT State of Good Repair

(SoGR) Rating, under the VFO Continual Process Improvement, the target percentage is 15 percent improvement across all

systems and projects. This rate of IT‐SoGR improvement includes completion of various Action Plans, including the completion

and reporting of Dashboard Metrics, Phone System Upgrade, Network Upgrade, Data Center Improvements, Back‐up/Storage

Replacement, IVR, CitrixFarm, Mobile Ticketing, & various End‐User Priorities.


Reduced the number of networked printers and personal printers in private offices

Launched a Mobile Ticketing pilot program in time for the RNC and MLB post‐season

Improved “Real‐Time” customer information through the “Transit App”

Completed Phase 1 of the Mobile Device Management Project

Created Service and Operating Level Agreements

Initiated First Phase of IT Security Project

Finalizing Trapeze module updates

Documented Incident Management Processes and COOP for IT

Implemented the Service Desk Incident Management System

Completed roll‐out of GroupWise Expansion project

Finalizing Phase 1 of the replace phone system

2017 PRIORITIES

Complete the replace phone system

Continue upgrades to the Authority’s Network Infrastructure

Complete enhancements of data storage capacity for projects

Implement SQL server upgrade and Citrix farm replacement

Complete next phase of the IT Security Project

Educate IT and End User customer base on ITIL methodologies and best practices

Improve processes related to planning, procurement, implementation, and support of IT technologies

Implement and Complete upgrade of Intranet


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class




501310 Overtime - Salaried Employees 450 3,200 600 1,500

502000 Fringe Benefits 569,286 743,546 860,924 866,882

503000 Services 328,051 66,857 8,115 153,750

503049 Temporary Help (16,000) 0 0 0

503052 Other Maintenance Contracts 2,335,156 3,107,017 2,856,685 3,786,143



505022 Telephone 669,637 612,519 551,539 719,400




512000 Leases & Rentals 18,416 90,699 85,980 101,200

Total 5,586,994 6,708,079 6,661,990 8,132,770


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017


24 1646 User Support Analyst 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

25 0751 Network Administrator 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0760 Database Analyst 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0960 User Support Specialist 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

1647 Web Application Specialist 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1961 Applications Analyst 0.0 2.0 1.0 1.0

26 0960 User Support Specialist 0.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

1072 Telecom Specialist 2.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1077 Senior Web Developer 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1082 System Administrator 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

1155 Sr. Programmer Analyst 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

27 0756 Network Engineer 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

1070 Database Administrator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1632 User Support Architect 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1745 Lead Telecommunications Specialist 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1960 Senior Application Analyst 3.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

28 1633 IT Security Engineer 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0

1648 Lead Database Administrator 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

29 0783 Manager ITS/End User Support 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1321 Manager of Infrastructure 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1325 Manager of Applications 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1655 Project Manager – Systems 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1726 Manager – ITS 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

31 1730 CIO/Executive Director 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 28.0 32.0 31.0 32.0


OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Office of Management & Budget is to effectively allocate the Authority’s resources, provide organizational

and strategic leadership, provide consulting services for the CEO / General Manager and the Board of Trustees, and provide

management consulting services to all Departments on behalf of the CEO / General Manager.


Fiscal Responsibility is the main driver of the Strategic Plan for the Office of Management and Budget. Operating revenue

performance is the key driver of managing revenue growth. It is crucial to manage Fare Revenue, Sales & Use Tax, and

Reimbursed Expenditures. Outlining capital needs defines funds needed to invest in maintaining assets and infrastructure. To

meet operational needs, capital funds from Formula and Competitive Grants are critical. Limiting and reducing annual operating

expenses is evident of organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Enhancing Fiscal Responsibility is also part of the strategic

plan for OMB. A key indicator of operating efficiency is the farebox recovery ratio. This is the percentage of operating expenses

met by paid passenger fares. Other initiatives include rate of audit compliance with various regulatory entities and the progress

rate of completing process improvement action plans.


Submitted the application for The Partnership for Excellence (TPE) for the Baldrige Award

Executed the 2016 – 2018 Strategic Plan and updated VFOs

Ended the year with a Fund Balance in excess of $24 million, with a 30‐Day Operating Reserve

Successfully completed the 2015 National Transit Database submission

Continued the Energy Price Risk Management program to control and stabilize diesel and CNG fuel costs

Continued to execute energy management initiatives in electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer

Created and executed the 2016 TransitStat Engagement Survey

Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed AAA credit rating; Moody’s reaffirmed Aa1 rating

Held Preventive Maintenance reimbursed expenditures to General Fund to less than $22 million

Coordinated the Authority’s participation in American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG) to identify and share best

practices

2017 PRIORITIES

Coordinate The Partnership for Excellence Site Visit for the Baldrige Award

Expand the TransitStat program to improve processes, enhance service, and further reduce costs

Continue to execute the Energy Management initiatives in electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer

Continue to execute the Energy Price Risk Management program to control and stabilize diesel fuel and natural gas

costs

Lead the National Transit Database reporting and submittal

Continue to implement an agency‐wide initiative to improve operations through the Partnership for Excellence, ISO

14001, and ABBG

Continue to reprioritize the capital program and coordinate the funding and system implications


OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class




502000 Fringe Benefits 429,532 299,113 302,358 291,530

503000 Services 60,914 242,302 179,909 78,000

503020 Advertising Fees 474 600 300 600


504000 Material & Supplies 943 1,665 12,171 0

504021 Compressed Natural Gas 0 0 913,296 1,044,000


505018 Natural Gas 957,626 1,440,125 705,029 887,000

505020 Water 338,214 349,418 374,765 450,000

505021 Electricity 2,075,246 2,263,547 1,690,333 2,229,200



509022 Meals & Concessions 631 162 1,200 1,650

Total 4,742,684 5,402,869 4,966,732 5,999,784

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET DEPARTMENT STAFFING

Grade Job Name 2014 2015 2016 2017

27 0958 Budget Management Analyst 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0

28 0767 Sr. Budget Mgmt Analyst 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

0871 Coord Finan Syst & Budgets 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1626 Energy Manager 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

29 0869 Manager of Budgets 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

1655 Project Manager – Systems 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0


Total 11.0 10.0 10.0 10.0


FUND TRANSFERS DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Fund Transfers Department is to ensure adequate set‐aside funding is available to meet the needs of the

Authority.


The Fund Transfers Department supports the VFO of Fiscal Responsibility and ensures funding for set‐asides will be in policy

compliance.


Bond Retirement Fund transfer: Ending Balance: $2.1 million > 1/12th of subsequent years debt service requirements

Insurance Fund: Ending Balance = $5.1 million > $5 million minimum ending balance

Supplemental Pension Fund: Ending Balance: $1.3 million > last assessed value

Capital Improvement Fund transfer: 14.3% of Sales & Use Tax Funding transferred to Capital (within goal of 10‐15%)

2017 PRIORITIES

Bond Retirement Fund: Year‐End balance > 1/12th of subsequent years debt service requirements

Insurance Fund: Year‐End Balance > $5 million

Supplemental Pension Fund: Ending Balance > last assessed value

Capital Improvement Fund: transfer of Sales & Use Tax to Capital between 10 – 15%

Reserve Fund transfer: 10% of year‐end balance above $10 million or 5% of year‐end balance if under $10 million

FUND TRANSFERS DEPARTMENT BUDGET

Object Class

Description 2014

Actual 2015

Actual 2016

Estimate 2017

Budget

510050 Transfers to/from Reserve Fund 0 0 0 426,483

510065 Transfers to/from Pension Fund 100,000 100,000 100,000 75,000

510075 Transfers to/from RTA Capital 15,874,745 15,693,139 9,472,060 13,276,394

510085 Transfers to/from Bond Retirement Fund 20,480,914 22,273,402 21,882,300 19,284,420

510090 Transfers to/from Insurance Fund 900,000 1,500,000 500,000 2,400,000

Total 37,355,659 39,566,541 31,954,360 35,462,297

Capital Improvement Plan 201

2017 – 2021 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN INTRODUCTION

Providing cost‐effective, safe, clean, and reliable public transportation services depends on the maintenance and upkeep of

the Authority’s capital assets. The capital‐intensive nature of the Authority’s operations make long term financial planning

indispensable. In turn though, the ability to fund these capital needs must continually be weighed against the financial

resources required to support the regular operations of the Authority.

The proposed 2017–2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) continues the Authority’s ongoing process to align available

financial resources with programmed capital projects directed towards achieving a State of Good Repair (SGR) throughout

its vehicle fleets, capital assets, and infrastructure. Effective planning helps facilitate this process by providing a framework

to schedule capital improvements based on the condition or SGR of capital assets, the availability of financial resources, and

the evaluation of requested capital projects. The current process prioritizes capital infrastructure requests and needs and

aligns its ongoing capital program with available Federal, State, Local and non‐traditional funding resources.

The financial demands to meet a SGR throughout the Authority’s capital assets remain at a high level, but the decision to

balance scheduled activities with funding limits the number of budgeted projects in any given year end, in essence, has

moved the CIP from a five to an eight‐year plan. The 2017‐21 CIP presented here includes the first five programmed years

of the Authority’s Capital Program, with out‐year projects, covering 2022–2024, under preliminary development.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

This chapter contains the 2017‐2021 Capital Improvement Plan of the Authority. The first year reflects the Board approved

RTA Capital and RTA Development Fund budget appropriations for the FY 2017 capital projects. The following four years of

the CIP highlight planned, but not yet approved, out‐year capital projects of the Authority. Capital projects and their

associated budgets included in these out‐years are subject to change based on financial circumstances, revised project time

lines or in capital priorities.

A summary of the Authority’s capital assets will help put these projects into perspective. The size, age, and service

requirements of the bus and rail fleets are used in support of capital projects including the ongoing Bus Improvement

Programs and maintenance needs of the Rail Fleets. Similarly, the age, purpose and maintenance history of the RTA’s

facilities provide a basis for reconstruction and rehabilitation decisions as the CIP is developed. Development of a Transit

Asset Management (TAM) database that will assist in refining this process by providing a basis to prioritize the needs of

capital assets based on their condition remains underway.

This chapter describes the planning process for the capital program, including the method for establishing budget

appropriation authority. It explains the chain of events involved and its relationship to the development of the

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). During this process, the Capital Improvement Financial Policies and Criteria

help focus the plan on the priority areas that guide decision making during the Capital Improvement process.

The Financial Capacity section explains Federal, State and Local funding sources and debt management as it relates to the

Authority. It will also discuss the impact of capital investment decisions on the Operating Budget.

The final section is devoted to the details of the 2017 Capital Improvement Budget and the four out‐years of the overall 2017‐

2021 CIP. Smaller locally funded projects included in the RTA Capital Fund are listed in Department order, while the larger,

grant and/or locally funded capital projects included in the RTA Development Fund projects are organized by capital project

categories and reflect specific funding sources, supporting those projects.


CAPITAL ASSETS

The principal share of expenditures planned within the 2017–21 CIP focuses on attaining a State of Good Repair (SGR) for

the Authority’s capital assets. Highlights include completion of the ADA Key Station program, an on‐going track

rehabilitation plan, reimbursement of preventive maintenance and other expenses generated within the Operating Budget,

and the maintenance and upgrade of capital assets throughout the Authority. It continues to emphasize the backlog of

needed capital improvements throughout the Authority’s infrastructure and facilities. The age of the Authority’s primary

facilities, including their history in terms of original in‐service dates, rehabilitations, and additions are shown below in Figure

95. These facilities and others are briefly discussed on the following pages.

Figure 95: Age Distribution of GCRTA Primary Facilities

FACILITIES

BROOKLYN GARAGE FACILITY

The Brooklyn Garage was originally built in 1895 with additions in both 1955 and 1969. It remained in service as a bus

facility until 2003. The facility is under a regular maintenance schedule and awaiting a potential buyer.

BUS DISTRICT GARAGE FACILITIES

The Authority has two active large bus district garages:

TRISKETT GARAGE is located at 13405 Lakewood Heights Boulevard. It was originally put into service in 1958 with a new

replacement garage opening in 2005 at this location. West side service and trolley operations are operated from this garage.

Brooklyn

Blue‐Green Line

Hayden

Red Line

Woodhill

Rail Complex

Central Bus Maint.

Paratransit

Harvard

Main Office

Triskett

Year Built

Facilities

Age Distribution of Primary Facilities

Add On Rehabilitations Original

2015 2005 1995 1985 1975 1965 1955 1945 1935 1925 1915 1905 1895


HAYDEN GARAGE at 1661 Hayden Avenue was constructed in 1932, with two major additions in 1952 and 1968. It was

rehabilitated in 1998 and a SGR project that included the replacement of six hydraulic lifts, fire suppression and HVAC

systems, and 16 overhead doors was completed in FY 2014.Installation of a CNG fueling station was completed in FY 2015

and work is underway to address remaining CNG related building improvements with completion scheduled in FY 2017. East

side service and the Health Line buses are operated from this garage.

CENTRAL BUS MAINTENANCE FACILITY

The Central Bus Maintenance Facility (CBM), at 2500 Woodhill Road, was put into service in 1983 and houses a

remanufacturing division, diagnostic center, bus service & maintenance area, and central inventory stores. Various facilities

improvements and lift replacements, funded from a Federal SGR grant award, were completed in 2014. Work is underway

on remaining CNG building improvements at this facility with completion scheduled in FY 2017.

CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS

The GCRTA has two Customer Service Centers located at the Tower City Rapid Station Rotunda in downtown Cleveland

and on the first floor of the GCRTA Main Office Building.

HARVARD GARAGE FACILITY

The Harvard Garage opened for service as a bus garage in 1995 and has not been used as an operating district since 2010. In

FY 2014, the Authority entered a License Agreement with Cuyahoga County renting a portion of the facility to help defray

cost. The facility is under regular schedule maintenance and currently being used to store transit vehicles and host training

classes.

MAIN OFFICE BUILDING

The Main Office Building, a renovated warehouse in the downtown Cleveland Warehouse District, located at 1240 West

Sixth Street, opened in September of 1997. This facility houses the administrative functions of the Authority and the

Authority’s Central Communication Center.

PARATRANSIT FACILITY

The Paratransit Facility, at 4601 Euclid Avenue, was completed in 1983 and houses all Paratransit functions including

scheduling, dispatching and both revenue and non‐revenue vehicle repairs. In FY 2014, a propane fueling station was

installed at the Paratransit Garage and in FY 2015 related propane related building enhancements and a 24‐month

rehabilitation project, including various facilities and equipment upgrades were completed.

PARK‐N‐RIDE LOTS

One objective of the GCRTA is to provide rail and/or bus Park‐N‐Ride services for all major commuter corridors within

Cuyahoga County. As such, the GCRTA provides over 8,300 parking spaces at 21 of its rapid stations and operates seven bus

Park‐N‐Ride lots in Berea, Brecksville, Rocky River, Strongsville, North Olmsted, Euclid and Westlake with more than 1,680

parking spaces.

PASSENGER SHELTERS

There are approximately 1,400 bus shelters located throughout the Authority’s bus system at the close to 6,100 bus stops

that are cleaned, maintained or replaced on a regular basis throughout the year.


RAIL DISTRICT COMPLEX

The Rail District Complex, located at 6200 Grand Avenue, went into service in late 1982. It houses Rail Headquarters, the

Central Rail Maintenance Facility (CRMF), which handles all mechanical, body, and electrical repairs for the rail fleet, the

Central Rail Service Building, the RTA Rail Yards, and is the location of the Authority’s Transit Police Headquarters. In FY

2014, a total roof replacement project for these facilities was completed, in FY 2015, a multi‐year Central Rail Lift Rehab

program was implemented to replace and upgrade rail car lifts at this facility to ensure safety and to meet operational needs.

In FY 2016, the Exterior Carwash and Track Crossing was repaired and replaced to ensure continual operation of the car wash

bay and transfer table, minimizing service interruptions.

TRANSIT CENTERS

Transit Centers provide heated customer waiting areas and roadways to allow several bus routes to meet and transfer

passengers. RTA has six Transit Centers located in Fairview Park at Westgate Shopping Center, Euclid, North Olmsted,

Maple Heights at Southgate Shopping Center, Parma at the Parmatown Mall, and near Cleveland State University

(Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center) with more than 900 combined parking spaces.

WOODHILL GARAGE FACILITY

The Woodhill Garage opened in 1966 as a bus garage and remained in service until 1998. It is currently being used as a

training facility and houses the Authority’s Print Shop operations. In 2015, this facility under went rehabilitation to remodel

a portion of the facility to expand work areas for the electronic repair shop, operators training classroom, and print shop

equipment enhancements.

RAIL SYSTEM

RIGHT‐OF‐WAY

RTA owns 65 miles of rail lines (32.5 miles of joint rail) used for the operation of its rapid transit system including twenty‐

seven miles of light rail and thirty‐eight miles of heavy rail track. To address potential issues related to MAP‐21 and the new

FAST Act requirements, the Authority is involved in a multi‐year program that will establish SGR needs throughout its rail

system that will help to prioritize on‐going rehabilitation programs. The right‐of‐way of the Rail System includes 63 track

bridges, 53 passenger stations, 17 propulsion power substations, overhead electrical catenary wires, signals, switches, and

associated rail infrastructure all of which are included in a regular maintenance program to maintain a state of good repair.

BLUE, GREEN & WATERFRONT LINES (LIGHT RAIL)

The Blue, Green and Waterfront Lines comprise the RTA’s Light Rail (LR) System. From the downtown Tower City Station,

the Blue and Green lines run on shared track east to Shaker Square, where they separate. From there, the Blue Line follows

Van Aken Boulevard to its termination at Warrensville‐Center Road, while the Green Line travels along Shaker Boulevard

and terminates at Green Road. The Waterfront Line runs from Tower City through the Flats East Bank development area,

near First Energy Football Stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and terminates at the Muni Parking Lot.

Most of the 13.5‐mile LR lines, with the exception of the 2.2‐mile Waterfront Line extension added in 1996, were originally

constructed between 1913 and 1920. The Authority’s Light Rail System has 35 stations; including three it shares with the

Red Line at Tower City, the East 34th/Campus and East 55th Street Stations. The entire Light Rail System, including tracks,

infrastructure, and stations was reconstructed between 1980 and 1984.

In FY 2013, a reconstructed Woodhill Station was opened, in FY 2015 a completed reconstruction of Lee/Van Aken Station,

and the phase two of the Light Rail Crossings rehabilitation of three crossings one on the Green Line at Southpark Blvd and


two on the Waterfront line at Robert Lockwood Dr. and St. Clair Avenue, and the completion of the multi‐year Shaker Square

Crossings and Junctions rehabilitation project. In FY 2016, three additional Light Rail Crossings were completed at Main

Street on the Waterfront Line, at Southington Road and West Park Boulevard on the Green Line, which also included

completed construction of two Green Line Stations at Warrensville/Shaker Blvd. and Lee Road/Shaker Blvd. and the

reconstruction of East 116th St. Light Rail Trunk Line Station.

RED LINE (HEAVY RAIL)

The RTA’s Heavy Rail (HR), or Red Line, runs on joint tracks for 19 miles from its eastern terminal at the Louis Stokes Station

at Windermere, located in East Cleveland, through the Tower City Station in downtown Cleveland to its western terminal at

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. There are 18 stations along the line, eight east of downtown, one at Tower City in

downtown Cleveland, and nine west of downtown. Fifteen of the Red Line stations were originally constructed between

1954 & 1958. The remaining three stations, including the Line’s western terminal at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport, were put

into service in 1967.

Since 2000 the Authority has completely renovated or reconstructed ten of its Red Line Station, with two, Cedar – University

and Little Italy – University Circle Rapid Station recently completed. In FY 2015 other infrastructure projects that were

finished including the rehabilitation of Red Line track from the S‐Curve to W. 117th St. Station and from Kinsman Ave. to the

Cedar‐University Station. During FY 2016 completion of track reconstruction of Track 7 & 8 at Tower City Station; and work

commenced on a $15.1 million reconstruction of Brookpark Station, and a combined budget of $10.7 million is programmed

for heavy rail projects including the first of two years for the East 34th Street Station reconstruction for $4.5 million and $6.2

million for improvements at the Brookpark, Puritas and W. 65th Substations.

The 2017‐21 CIP of the Authority continues to commit a significant amount of resources towards achieving a SGR in its Light

& Heavy Rail Systems infrastructure including the reconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrades to train stations, power

substations and electrical systems, train controls, and its on‐going track and station rehabilitation programs.

BRIDGES/TUNNELS

The GCRTA is responsible for the maintenance and inspection of 63 track bridges owned within its right‐of‐way. This

includes four station bridges, eight highway bridges, nine service/access bridges, one transit tunnel, five fly‐over bridges on

the Red Line, and the ¾ mile long viaduct bridge over the Cuyahoga River. The GCRTA also has joint responsibility for

inspecting and maintaining the substructures of 100 city and county highway bridges that span the rail tracks. A majority of

these bridges were built before 1930 and now require major repairs.

Since 2000, 18 track bridges, seven street bridges, including the shared Light Rail Trunk Line Bridge, and the Airport Tunnel

have been completely rehabilitated and the closed Rockefeller Bridge demolished. In FY 2015, the rehabilitation of CRMF

Road Bridge at East 37thand East 81st& 83rd Street were completed. After completion of engineering & design services

programmed in prior year for track bridges, construction work begin on three track bridges in FY 2016 including a combined

$10.5 million for the reconstruction of track bridges at East Blvd., East 92nd Street, and completion of Phase I rehabilitation

work on the Viaduct Track Bridge‐ Concrete & Repairs. The out‐years of this CIP includes engineering & design services and

reconstruction work on five track bridges, the first construction phase on the Viaduct Bridge, track bridge rehabilitation of

W.117th Street, Ambler Avenue , Canal Road, Lorain Avenue and an on‐going inspection program to monitor the condition

of each track bridge owned by the Authority.

TOWER CITY STATION

The Tower City Station, is the only downtown station for both the Heavy (Red Line) and Light Rail (Blue, Green, and

Waterfront Lines) systems and operates as the main connection point for the Authority’s rail lines. Originally constructed

and opened in 1930 for passenger rail service, modified in 1955 to accommodate the Authority’s rail services, it was

completely reconstructed in the late eighties as part of an overall re‐development of the entire Tower City complex.


In FY 2016, $8.90 million was programmed for the rehabilitation of Platform 7 (to serve as a temporary station) and the

reconstruction of Track 8 (west‐bound track) located under Tower City was completed at 2016 fiscal year end. Construction

work was also completed at Tower City Station to replace two sets of escalators (long and short) in time to host the

Republican National Convention in mid‐2016.

REVENUE VEHICLE FLEETS

CONVENTIONAL BUSES

There were 496 vehicles in the GCRTA bus fleet at the end of 2016. Compared to the prior year, 68 vehicles have been retired

or are in the process of being replaced under the bus improvement program. During FY 2015, 90 new 40‐FT CNG vehicles

were placed in daily operation, and in FY 2016, 12 Trolleys were placed into services at mid‐year programming an additional

16 40ft CNG buses and 29 diesel vehicles to arrive late 2017. The Authority’s current fleet includes 218 40‐foot transit buses;

40‐foot articulated diesel buses; 24 60‐foot articulated hybrid bus rapid transit (BRT) vehicles; 23 45‐foot commuter buses;

12 29‐foot trolley buses; and 90 40‐foot CNG vehicles. The FTA defines the useful life of a bus to be the lesser of 12 years or

500,000 miles and the average age of the large bus fleet was 7.6 years at the end of FY 2016. The age distribution of the

Authority’s large bus fleet is shown in Figure 96 on the next page.

The Authority’s goal is to replace approximately 1/14 of its large bus fleet every year (30 to 35 buses) and to accommodate

any increases in peak vehicle requirements. This hasn’t been possible until recent budget years due to the lingering impact

of the recession and other higher priority capital needs of the Authority, but the 2017– 21 CIP continues a planned bus

replacement program, begun in 2013, that should average close to 35 buses per year over a five‐year period.

A regular bus replacement program will:

Reduce operating maintenance costs;

Improve the reliability of the fleet;

Distribute maintenance efforts more evenly;

Reduce the Authority’s vulnerability to large groups of bus defects; and

Prevent one‐time large purchases.

Figure 96: Age Distribution of Bus Fleet

Programmed orders in future years of this CIP depends upon the availability of non‐formula funding, but they are expected

to further lower the average age of the Authority’s big bus fleet to approximately 6.4 years at the end of 2020. All current

and future ordered GCRTA buses are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, with the exception of

the trolley buses and BRT vehicles, are equipped with bicycle racks.

0-2 Years29.2%

3-5 Years4.6%

6-9 Years20.0%

10+ Years46.2%

Age Distribution of Large Bus Fleet End of 2016


PARATRANSIT BUSES

The Authority’s Paratransit Program transports senior citizens and disabled persons on an advanced reservation basis.

Including twenty propane fueled vehicles there are 89 ADA compliant, wheelchair‐equipped buses in active service in the

Paratransit fleet with an average age of 4.9 years at the end of FY 2016. In mid FY 2016, 20 MV‐1 vehicles was delivered and

placed into service. If the replacement of buses continue at this rate, it is anticipated that the average age of Paratransit

fleet will be approximately 2.4 years by the end of FY 2018. In 1991, the Board adopted a policy to provide for the integration

of fixed rail and bus services with Paratransit services into a network of services comparable to what is available to the

general public. This continuing policy is designed to maintain full system accessibility and provide compliance with ADA and

U.S. Department of Transportation Regulations.

RAIL VEHICLES

RTA owns a combined 108 heavy and light rail vehicles for its rail operations. The average age of the Authority’s combined

rail fleet at the end of 2016 was 35 years old. In recent years a midlife overhaul of the Authority’s Light Rail (LR) and Heavy

Rail (HR) fleets was completed, and in prior year 2015 an interior overhauls was implemented and completed. Both mid‐life

projects were initiated to economically extend the useful life of the Authority’s rail vehicle fleets approximately 12 years

beyond their normal expected operating life of 25 to 30 years, but in the near future, the Authority will be facing significant

replacement costs for both of its rail fleets.

There are 60 active Tokyo HR vehicles, purchased in 1984 and 1985, which operate on the Red Line. The peak service

requirements for the Red Line during rush hours are 18 cars, while special events require 36 cars. The 48 active Breda LR

vehicles, acquired between 1981 and 1983, run on the Blue, Green, and Waterfront Lines of the Authority. Vehicle

requirements for LR peak rush hour service are 13 cars, and 28 cars are required for special event services.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING CYCLE

The Capital Improvement Planning Cycle is longer than the operating budget process due to the preparation, scope, and

cost involved with the projects. Grant‐funded projects must be identified well in advance of planned execution so that

applications can be filed and approved. Furthermore, construction projects must be preceded by preliminary engineering

and design work to determine the scope and specifications of the project.

The Calendar of Events, Figure 97 on the next page, depicts the revised Capital Improvement and TIP planning cycles for the

2017‐21 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The process began in March, 2016 when the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) reviewed the budgeting policies and set the parameters for the Capital Budget, and concluded in August with the

Board Adoption of the recommended 2017‐21 CIP followed by submission to NOACA for inclusion in the TIP/STIP.

At the start of the CIP development process, an initial review is done by OMB and various departments to assess the status

of projects included in the current year’s Capital Improvement Budget. This review includes any variances with programmed

project timelines, availability of grant funds, and an inter‐departmental review of data and resources required for the

upcoming CIP. The Authority’s Divisions and Departments are then provided a detailed set of instructions and follow‐up

meetings with staff are held that include a review of the information required for capital project requests, clarification of

Department and Division requests and an overview of anticipated funding for the upcoming capital budget year.

In May, June and early July, OMB staff and the Capital Program Working Group (CPWG) reviewed all submitted capital

project requests for consistency with the needs of the Authority’s infrastructure, funding availability, the Authority’s Long

Range Plan, the current Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), and the annual strategic planning process. Projects were

then prioritized in accordance with RTA’s capital priority areas‐ state of good repair, health & safety, mandates, efficiencies,

environmental impact, and ridership transit oriented development and in turn forwarded to the Capital Program Oversight

Committee (CPOC) which includes the Executive Management Team of the Authority. The CPOC was formed to develop


and monitor the Capital Program and to authorize the five‐year Capital Program with projected grant, local and non‐

traditional revenue sources. After initial meetings with the Department Directors at the division level and with the General

Manager and the Executive Management Team at the organizational level, the recommended Capital Budgets for the 2017‐

21 CIP were finalized.

This was followed, in July, by a comprehensive mid‐year review that assessed the status of the current year’s Capital

Improvement Budget. Based on the mid‐year review, the CIP for 2017‐21 was finalized and presented to the Board of

Trustees’ Finance Committee in August for discussion and review at which time approval was given.

TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

The planning cycle for grant‐funded projects begins with the development of the Authority’s CIP for incorporation into the

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP documents transportation related capital projects within the region

for which Federal funding will be requested. Projects must appear in the TIP to receive funding consideration. The Northeast

Ohio Area‐wide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is responsible for bi‐annually preparing the four‐year plan for this area with

the GCRTA responsible for preparing the transit component of the plan for Cuyahoga County.

The GCRTA Long‐Range Plan and its related five‐year Strategic Plan guides the CIP and TIP. These plans articulate the types

of services and markets the Authority expects to serve. The Authority’s preparation of projects for inclusion in the TIP began

in March when departments request revisions, additions, or deletions to the previous year’s CIP. The Budget Calendar of

Events reflects the TIP process and how it corresponds to the Capital Improvement planning cycle. Capital project requests

Figure 97

CPWG Initial review and discussion on 2017-21 projects to-forward to CPOC for consideration.

Board approved FY 2016 Budget Appropriations for various Authority Fundsare loaded to Financial Management System

Current Fiscal Year Budget Appropriations in all Funds available for use

Publication of Annual Budget Book Report on Fourth Quarter (end of prior year) Review

Budget Policy Review and Priority Setting OMB Preparation for 2017–21 CIP Process

Report on First Quarter Review Department Directors 2017-21 CIP Kickoff Meeting Submission of Capital Requests/Revisions to CPWG -

Office of Management & Budget prepares 2017 Tax Budget CPOC review and approval of 2017–21 CIP- Development of Funding Strategy for Annual Element of CIP Finalize and submit to NOACA any revisions and/or

amendments to the current four-year TIP-

Adoption of 2017 Non-Capital Budgets -

Presentation of CEO Recommended non-Capital Budgets for the Upcoming Year-to Board Committee

Board Deliberations/Public Hearings

Complete Submission of 2017–21 CIP for TIP/STIP- Final EMT Presentation of non -Capital Budgets for Upcoming

Calendar Year Final Rollup/Transmittal Letter

Departmental Negotiations & Consensus on Operating Budget Preliminary Budget Rollup & Reconciliation Preliminary EMT Presentation of non -Capital Budgets -

Operating Base Budget Development Completed Funding Strategy for 2017– 21 CIP Based on Federal & State Allocations- Presentation to Board, Public Hearing and Board Adoption of 2017–21 CIP.- -

Adoption of Tax Budget Report on Second Quarter (Mid-Year Review- CPOC Consensus & EMT Presentation of Recommended 2017-21 CIP-

Capital Program Working Group (CPWG)Capital Program Oversight Committee (CPOC) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

December

November

October

September

August

July June

May

April

March

February

January 2016

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUNJUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC


are prioritized by the Capital Projects Working Group (CPWG) and, in turn, are submitted to the Capital Program Oversight

Committee (CPOC) for review and approval.

The proposed Capital Budgets for the upcoming calendar year are presented to the Board of Trustees committees; further

defined depending on funding allocations for the new Federal fiscal year and any revisions to the original Capital Budgets

will be submitted for Board approval in December and through NOACA, incorporated into the current four‐year TIP prior to

the new Federal Fiscal Year. Revisions to existing projects and/or amendments to add new projects are submitted on a

quarterly basis for review and inclusion in the revised TIP/STIP.

CAPITAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS

The budget process culminates when the Board approves the budget and establishes appropriation authority for the

upcoming Fiscal Year. With respect to the Capital Budget, appropriation authority varies depending on which of the two

Capital Improvement Funds, either the RTA Capital or the RTA Development Fund, supports the project.

The RTA Capital Fund includes capital projects funded from the Sales & Use Tax revenue. In general, these capital projects

are less than $150,000, have a useful life of less than 5 years, are routine in nature, and usually directly tie to daily operations.

This Fund is subdivided into Routine Capital projects, for the acquisition of non‐revenue vehicles and equipment, and Asset

Maintenance projects, that include minor rehabilitation projects at Authority facilities.

The RTA Development Fund primarily includes capital projects with a value greater than $150,000, a useful life greater than

five years, and includes all of the large multi‐year rehabilitation/reconstruction and expansion projects of the Authority. All

grant‐funded projects are accounted for in the RTA Development Fund and projects in this Fund are normally supported

through various combinations of Federal and State of Ohio grants, local matches for these grants, debt service and/or 100

percent local funds.

Budget authority for both RTA Capital and RTA Development Fund projects are established when the Board of Trustees

approves the annual Capital and other Fund Budgets of the Authority. The Board also approves grant applications and the

acceptance of awards, which commits the Authority to providing matching funds when grant funds are drawn. Once

approved, the Authority may draw against the grant until the project is completed or the time limit on the grant has expired.

Grant awards can only fund projects specified in the application unless the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or grantor

agency approves an amendment.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FINANCIAL POLICIES

The Board of Trustees has established a set of financial policies including some to ensure that adequate funds are regularly

invested in maintaining the Authority’s capital assets. These policies, which are highlighted in the Budget Guide, are used

as goals for planning and controlling. They are as follows:

An amount equivalent to at least 10 and not more than 15 percent of Sales & Use Tax revenues shall be allocated to the Capital Improvement Fund on an annual basis.

Capital Improvement Funds shall be used to account for the construction and acquisition of major capital facilities, vehicles, and equipment.

The percent of capital maintenance outlay to capital expansion outlay will be a minimum of 15 percent and a maximum of 85 percent.

The Authority will strive to take advantage of all available Federal and State grants and other financing programs for capital improvements.


CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CRITERIA

Capital project requests for consideration in the 2017–21 CIP far exceeded available resources. As a result, established

guidelines are used to prioritize project requests for funding. The following criteria provide a basis for preliminary capital

investment decisions and include:

THE VALUE AND USEFUL LIFE OF THE CAPITAL ASSET

To be included in the Capital Improvement Plan, the asset must have a value of $5,000 or more and have a useful life

exceeding one year. If financed by debt, the useful life should exceed the term of the bond.

The availability of resources to fund the Capital Improvement, including grant resources

The availability of grant resources against which local funds can be leveraged greatly enhances the likelihood of approval.

THE AGE AND CONDITION OF THE CAPITAL ASSET

Assets that are older and in poor condition generally rank higher on the rehabilitation or replacement list. Specific vehicle

rehabilitation or replacement programs have been established for buses, rail cars, and non‐revenue vehicles.

THE RELATIVE COST TO THE AUTHORITY FOR THE BENEFIT OBTAINED

Benefits may be measured in terms of avoided cost or the ability of the improvement to recover the capital investment

within a given period.

VALUE ENGINEERING CONSIDERATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE SCHEDULING/ORDER OF PROJECTS

The relationship between projects is an important consideration in the scheduling of construction projects. For example,

major rehabilitation to a bridge on a rail line might coincide with a track rehabilitation to achieve economies and avoid a

duplication of effort.

PRIORITY AREAS

In addition to these criteria, all capital projects must relate to one of the following priority areas to be considered for

approval. Capital projects, which address multiple priority areas, have a greater likelihood of approval.

During this planning cycle, priority areas of the Authority were defined as:

Health and Safety – Ensuring the physical well‐being of the Authority’s customers, employees, and the general public

Mandates – Ensuring compliance with Federal and State mandates such as the Clean Air Act and Americans with Disabilities Act

State of Good Repair – Maintaining the Authority’s current ‘core business’ through investments in projects which are necessary in order to operate the existing infrastructure or add an additional dimension/mode to existing systems

Ridership Transit Oriented Development – Invest in equipment, opportunities for private investment, increased revenues, encourage partnerships with other organizations. Stimulate the development of current property for the benefit of customer satisfaction to maintain current ridership and attract new customers.

Technologies / Efficiencies – Instituting improvements which can produce operating efficiencies and make better use of resources or implementing projects which minimize additional operating expenses

Environmental Impact – Investing in equipment, adapting facilities or enhancing service infrastructure to support overall environmental benefits such as improved air quality


Figure 98 reflects the distribution of approved 2017 Capital Improvement projects by capital priority area. The largest

portion of the 2017 Capital Budget appropriations, $55.4 million or 86.5 percent, are for projects included within the State

of Good Repair category that maintain or improve existing Authority capital assets. This is followed by the

Technologies/Efficiencies category that includes projects that have an environmental impact, are for mandated programs,

or for transit oriented development with $5.8 million, or 9.1 percent, with the remaining categories making up the balance

of the budgeted capital projects.

Figure 98: Capital Projects by Priority Area

FINANCIAL CAPACITY

The nature of public transit requires that the Authority pursue a capital‐intensive budget. The Authority’s capacity to

support its ongoing CIP depends on the availability of governmental grants, local matching funds, and the ability to issue

bonds. During the eighties and through the mid‐nineties, the RTA favored a pay‐as‐you‐go method, maximizing the

benefits of Federal and State grant programs, and utilizing debt financing sparingly. Beginning in the mid‐nineties, the use

of debt significantly increased to meet the financial needs of an extremely aggressive Capital Improvement Program. This

led to a significant increase in the overall debt service of the Authority – one that requires principal and interest payments

that will exceed $18.5 million in FY 2017 for existing debt service.

At the end of FY 2016, the Authority will have a combined $120.0 million of outstanding debt among nine outstanding debt

issues. They are, along with their original amounts, $35.0 million of bonds issued in 2008, a $25.0 million issuance and $17.4

million refunding issuance in 2012, a $29.4 million refunding issuance in 2014, and a combined $51.4 million issuance and

refunding issuance in 2015. Current plans are to issue $30 million of additional debt in late FY 2017 or early FY 2018 that will

be used as the local match for programmed grant funded capital projects or for locally funded capital projects.

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2017-21

Priority Area Budget Plan Plan Plan Plan

Ridership $0.37 $0.35 $0.35 $0.35 $0.35 $1.77

Health & Safety $0.23 $0.23 $0.23 $0.23 $0.23 $1.13

State of Good Repair $55.43 $73.55 $78.86 $61.24 $63.88 $332.96

Technologies/Efficiencies $5.80 $12.33 $11.44 $3.89 $3.24 $36.70

Other $2.27 $2.27 $2.27 $2.27 $2.27 $11.35

Total $64.10 $88.73 $93.15 $67.98 $69.97 $383.91


In addition to determining the method of financing a project, capital investment decisions by the Authority also take into

account a project’s impact on operating costs. If a new facility is built, the operating budget must be capable of supporting

any additional costs or be positioned to take advantage of any efficiencies.

FEDERAL SOURCES

As reflected in Figure 99, Federal grants provide an estimated $59.4 million, or nearly 56.7 percent of the Authority’s capital

improvement revenue stream during FY 2017. Over the five‐year CIP period, Federal funding may provide approximately

63.3 percent of the needs for the Authority’s programmed capital projects. Most major Federal grant programs require a

local match, normally 20 percent, though in some isolated grant awards a 10 percent or no local match is required. Through

FFY 2013, Federal grant programs were modified by the INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT

OF 1991 (ISTEA), and confirmed by both the TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY

(TEA‐21) and the SAFE, ACCOUNTABLE, FLEXIBLE, EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR

USERS (SAFETEA‐LU) adopted in 2005.

SAFETEA‐LU was extended several times since, and in FY 2012 a new Transportation Act, Moving Ahead for Progress in

the 21st Century (MAP‐21), was approved by Congress. MAP=21 established some certainty over available FTA funds for

future transit construction projects. Changes in Federal formula calculations for grant awards, inclusion of new census data

in the determination of formula grants, incorporation of operating statistics relative to all transit agencies, and consolidation

and/or elimination of some grant programs had a an unfavorable impact upon financial resources for the Authority’s capital

improvement program.

The changes brought on by MAP‐21 legislation impacted the Authority’s Rail Systems capital programming. Prior to MAP‐

21 the Rail Modernization grant was allocated through a formula favorable to the Authority and other “older” rail systems in

America. Rail formula funds are currently allocated through a STATE OF GOOD REPAIR (SOGR) program, which

incorporates both population and operating statistics into the formula allocations resulting in a reduction of formula funds

for the rail system. While the MAP‐21 legislation clarified available financial resources in the short‐term, the long‐term

Federal funding commitment to public transportation remains uncertain.

At the end of 2015, a new Transportation Act titled “FIXING AMERICA’S SURFACE TRANSPORTATION” (FAST) ACT

is expected to be approved by Congress. The FAST Act will incorporate current MAP‐21 initiatives and focus on SOGR

strategies. The FAST Act is also expected to impact the Authority’s formula funding allocation in the CIP by an annually

projected increase of $2 million, most of which is prioritized for Rail SOGR projects.

On July 26, 2016 FTA made its “Final Ruling” reaffirming that transit agencies must establish a Transit Asset Management

System Plan to monitor and manage public transportation assets to improve safety and increase reliability and performance.

The “Final Ruling” sets the objective to achieve a state of good repair (SGR) by creating a business model using transit asset

condition ratings to guide capital planning decisions and optimize funding resources.


Figure 99: Capital Improvement Revenue by Source

URBANIZED AREA FORMULA ‐ SECTION 5307

Urbanized Area or Capital grants were originally provided under Section 5307 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964.

Resources are allocated to urban areas according to a formula and matched on an 80 percent Federal and 20 percent local

basis. This program has continued under the new MAP‐21 legislation, though several changes were made leading to a small

reduction in the annual award of funds. Additionally, changes due to MAP‐21 included the elimination of the Job Access &

Reverse Commute (JARC) Section 5316 program, which provided over $12.21 million in local match for operating costs

associated with this program over a six year period. The JARC program was incorporated into the Section 5307 formula

award as an eligible reimbursement in the MAP‐21 and FAST legislations, but no additional resources are provided to

continue the program.

In FFY 2015, with the local match included, the Authority received $29.08 million and $29.62 in FY 2016 from its Section 5307

award, a slight increase from the prior FY 2014 amount of $28.97 million. Prior to that, Section 5307 grant awards for the

Authority totaled $27.78 million in FFY 2013 and $28.70 million in FFY 2012. Future allocations under the upcoming FAST 21

legislation are estimated at $29.62 million, near the amount currently received under the MAP‐21 legislation.

STATE OF GOOD REPAIR – SECTION 5337

Since ISTEA, Federal participation for the former Section 5309 award program is distributed at the Federal Transit

Administration’s (FTA) discretion on an 80 percent Federal, 20 percent local basis. The ISTEA also instituted a multi‐tier

formula to allocate Section 5309 Rail Modernization grants, one that historically favored the older established rail systems

including the GCRTA. This formula allocation remained the same in the now expired SAFETEA‐LU legislation.


Transfer from General Fund $15.87 $15.51 $9.47 $13.28 $13.47 $14.31

Investment Income $0.07 $0.21 $0.73 $0.73 $0.63 $0.72

Federal $58.20 $75.82 $61.25 $59.35 $62.79 $71.29

State $2.05 $0.53 $1.38 $1.38 $1.38 $1.38

Debt Proceeds $0.00 $30.00 $0.00 $30.00 $0.00 $25.00

Other $0.07 $0.09 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

Total $76.26 $122.16 $72.83 $104.74 $78.27 $112.70


The MAP‐21 legislation replaced the Section 5309 Rail Modernization award program with the Section 5337 State of Good

Repair (SGR) grant program. It also replaced the historical Section 5309 funding formula allocation with a program that

relied upon operational statistics of a transit agency compared to the industry statistics, as well as use of the 2010 UZA

Census data. The new formula favors agencies serving growing populations and expanding transit services over those with

a relatively static UZA population and service, resulting in the loss of close to $4.0 million for rail formula award funds over

the last two years for the Authority.

The last Federal allocation for the Section 5309 – Rail Modernization Award was an indication of the financial impact the

Authority faced under the MAP‐21 legislation. Including the 20 percent local share, the last Rail Modernization award in FFY

2012 totaled $17.26 million. Since then, the Authority has received $14.16 million in FFY 2013, $15.38 million in FFY 2014

and $15.10 million in FFY 2015. Under the new FAST Act, the Authority received $17.38 in FY 2016, meeting the projected

$2.0 million increase needed for state of good repair for capital projects. While a significant increase, the Authority level of

funding remains below the actual need to maintain a state of good repair.

BUS & BUS FACILITIES – SECTION 5339

Section 5339 grant funding is a smaller formula award that provides additional capital funding for the replacement,

rehabilitation, purchase of buses and related equipment, and the construction of bus‐related facilities. Funding for this

award under the MAP‐21 Act remains relatively stable with $2.33 million received in FFY 2013, $2.43 million in FFY 2014, and

again in FFY 2015. Under the FAST Act, this amount slightly decreased to $2.30 million with similar amounts to be received

in future years of the CIP.

NON‐TRADITIONAL FEDERAL SOURCES

Non‐traditional Federal awards, including competitive and earmark grants, are beyond the scope of the previously discussed

programs, but are impacted by the MAP‐21 and subsequent FAST legislation. Additionally, grant award funding for an

annual ADA Reimbursement grant award, which reimbursed the Operating Budget an average of $3.17 million between FY

2011 – 2015 has lapsed resulting in a loss of revenue for the General Fund.

The Authority remains successful in competing for and being awarded non‐traditional or competitive awards that provide

the necessary resources enabling a number of important capital projects to be completed. The Authority will continue to

seek and submit applications for needed SGR capital projects as competitive grant awards become available.

The Authority recently received non‐traditional funding for the Career Pathways Development award of $985,754 received

in FY 2015 to be used by the Authority for a work force development program. In FY 2013 a TIGER III grant award for $15.63

million was received for construction work on the Little Italy ‐ University Circle Station & rehabilitation of the Mayfield Road

Track Bridge, and two non‐formula awards were executed totaling a combined $8.69 million for the Clifton Boulevard

Transit Enhancement project. Earlier in FY 2012, the Authority received two competitive grant awards; One for $3.96 million

for improvements at the Brookpark & Windermere Red Line Stations and the Strongsville Park‐N‐Ride, and a second for

$1.61 million for the rehabilitation & expansion of the Southgate Park‐N‐Ride lot, and rehabilitation of the Triskett, North

Olmsted Park‐N‐Ride, and Sprague/Fair parking lots. In the proposed 2017–2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), projects

are identified within the plan to seek competitive awards of $3.8 million for rehabilitation of Red Line Track West (W.75th –

W.98th) and $11.9 million for Radio CAD/AVL System Replacement. The capital funding from non‐traditional Federal source

grants are used to support years’ worth of unfunded programmed capital projects identified in the CIP.

STATE SOURCES

Administered through the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the State contributes up to one‐half of the local

match portion of Federal grant programs. In the past, the State contributed State grants in this form. Recently it has focused

on contributions that are project‐specific rather than for local match contributions, and it utilizes available Federal rather

than State awards. In FY 2012, the Ohio Transit Preservation Partnership Program (OTPPP) awarded $2.6 million of Federal

funds for the reconstruction of the Red Line Airport Tunnel and $1.89 million of Federal funds in FY 2013 for the Authority’s


Revenue Vehicle Camera and DVR program. In FY 2014, the Authority received a $2.62 million of OTPPP award for

replacement of 40‐Ft buses, and in FY 2015 executed a $1.96 million award for four replacement trolley buses. In future

budget years, the Authority will continue to submit applications to the State in support of the multi‐year bus improvement

and track reconstruction programs.

LOCAL SOURCES

The Capital Improvement Budget requires local resources to support the match for most grant‐funded projects, as well as

support 100 percent locally funded projects in both the RTA Capital and RTA Development Funds. In FY 2017, the combined

local contribution for the Authority’s capital program of $32.92 million are sourced from two transfers included within the

General Fund. The first is a $13.64 million transfer to the RTA Capital Fund to cover locally funded capital expenditures

within the Capital Funds. The second, a $19.28 million transfer from the General Fund to the Bond Retirement Fund, covers

projected debt service payments for the upcoming year. In recent years, these two transfers grew from $36.36 million in FY

2014, to $38.13 million in FY 2015, decreasing to $31.35 in FY 2016, and are expected to increase slightly and remain steady

into future budget years.

DEBT MANAGEMENT

Although major capital improvements are mostly funded by Federal and State capital grants, the Authority is required to

pay a percentage of most grant‐funded projects from its own local sources. Debt sales are used for this purpose as well as

to pay for major 100 percent locally funded projects. In FY 2015 Revenue Bonds (RB) were issued for $30.0 million in new

debt and $21.4 million in a refunding issuance. All of the Authority’s outstanding debt at the end of FY 2016 will mature by

December 2034. The $160.03 million balance of outstanding debt at the end of 2016 will require principal and interest

payments of $18.57 million in 2017.

DEBT LIMITATIONS

As a regional transit authority, Ohio law permits the Authority to issue both un‐voted and voted general obligation bonds.

In the past, only un‐voted general obligation bonds were issued. As the name implies, un‐voted debt is issued without the

vote of the electorate, within the

limitations provided under State

law. General obligation bonds are

secured by a pledge of the ‘full faith

and credit’ of the Authority, which is

backed by the power to levy and

collect ad valorem property taxes.

Current debt obligations do not

require the use of ad valorem

property taxes to pay debt service,

but are supported by the Authority’s

other revenue sources.

Figure 100: Outstanding G.O. Debt Service & SIB Loan and Annual Debt Service Payments


Annual Debt Service Payment 20.01 22.12 22.07 18.57 19.12 17.81Total Outstanding Debt 123.94 136.88 160.33 172.40 154.43 163.28

Debt Service


THERE ARE THREE LIMITATIONS RELATED TO THE AUTHORITY’S ABILITY TO ISSUE GENERAL

OBLIGATION DEBT:

1. Section 306.40 of the Ohio Revised Code LIMITS THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF BONDS that are supported by

property taxes to five percent of the assessed valuation within the Authority’s territory. The assessed valuation of

property within Cuyahoga County applicable to the GCRTA at the end of 2016 of $27.62 billion limits the amount of

available debt to $1.39 billion. This limitation is not currently very restrictive to the Authority in view of the large

dollar limit and its applicability only to debt supported by property taxes.

2. The second limitation, also contained in Section 306.40 of the Ohio Revised Code, RESTRICTS ANNUAL

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THE AUTHORITY’S UNVOTED GENERAL OBLIGATION

BONDS to one‐tenth of one percent (0.1 percent) of the assessed valuation. Based on the assessed valuation of

$27.62 billion, annual debt servicing capacity would be close to $27.62 million. This provision applies to all debt

issued by the Authority and is the most restrictive of the limitations, though it exceeds current debt payment levels.

3. The third constraint derives from both the Ohio Constitution and the Ohio Revised Code. Article XII, Section 11, of

the Constitution REQUIRES THAT ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION INCURRING DEBT MUST PROVIDE FOR

THE LEVYING OF TAXES sufficient to pay principal and interest on that debt. Section 2 of the same Article and

Section 5705.02 of the Ohio Revised Code limits to ten mills (one mill equals $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed

valuation) for the amount of taxes that may be levied without a vote of the citizens.

This ‘indirect’ limit on un‐voted debt prohibits the county and all political subdivisions from jointly levying property taxes

above ten mills without a vote of the people. Thus, the ability of the Authority to issue un‐voted general obligation debt is

‘shared’ with overlapping political subdivisions. As these entities issue debt subject to the 10‐mill limitation, the amount of

room available for other subdivisions’ debt is reduced. Political subdivisions include Cuyahoga County, various municipal

corporations, school districts, and townships within the taxing district.

At 10.754 mills, total outstanding debt issued by various public entities within the County exceeds the un‐voted ten‐mill

limit, restricting the Authority’s ability to issue any General Obligation Bonds. The Authority’s ability to issue more general

obligation debt remains limited under the third constraint, in that the total outstanding debt issued as of year‐end 2016 by

various public entities within the County exceeds the un‐voted ten‐mill limit. Due to this restraint in previous years, the

Authority issued new debt of $25.0 million in Revenue Bonds, rather than General Obligation Bonds, in 2012 and a new

issuance of $30 million in 2015.

OPERATING IMPACTS

A benefit of considering the Operating and Capital Budgets concurrently is the ability to gauge the impact of Capital

Improvement decisions on the Operating Budget. Financial requirements and programmed activities within the Authority’s

capital program will impact the 2017 Operating Budget in a number of ways such as the following:

The Trustees’ commitment to balancing sales & use tax revenues between the Capital Improvement Fund and

supporting operation needs. In the upcoming year, transfers to the Capital Fund are budgeted in the amount of

$13.28 million.

In tandem with increased capital requirements to achieve a SGR, the challenges with securing needed grant award

funds from Federal, State and other intergovernmental agencies places continual pressure on the General Fund to

contribute increasingly significant amounts of financial resources to the Capital Improvement Fund.

Estimated debt service and interest payments of $18.57 million will require a General Fund transfer to the Bond

Retirement Fund to offset the debt in FY 2017, further limiting the amount available for operating expenditures.

Some Operating Budget expenditures, primarily personnel costs across the Authority, are incurred in support of

ongoing activities spurred by capital construction projects. Eligible costs are reimbursed to the General Fund as

revenue from the RTA Development Fund. In FY 2017, this activity will result in a projected $1.0 million in grant

funded reimbursements to the General Fund.


Formula grant funds are eligible to reimburse preventive maintenance (PM) activities with the Operating Budget.

For the five fiscal years covering FY 2006 thru FY 2010, $141.19 million of Federal formula capital grants were used

for this purpose. In the following five fiscal years, 2011 – 2015, the improved financial position of the Authority

reduced need of formula funding for preventive maintenance activities to $75.39 million, then redirected for

needed capital improvements. In FY 2016, PM activities are expected to end the year at $21.20 million as budgeted.

In FY 2017, PM activities are budgeted to decrease slightly to $20.0 million as the service needs of the Operating

Budget draw resources from the Capital program.

The capital program helps to maintain the Authority’s capital assets in a state of good repair that facilitates

improved delivery of transportation services and helps to reduce maintenance costs incurred in the operating

budget.

Daily activities within the FY 2017 General Fund or Operating Budget are supported by $3.92 million of budget

appropriation for various capital projects included within the RTA Capital Fund. These generally include smaller

(less than $150,000) equipment & non‐revenue vehicle purchases and facilities maintenance activities, and are

exclusively supported by local funds from Sales & Use Tax revenue.

CAPITAL PROJECT CATEGORIES

The combined 2017–2021 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) totals $383.91 million of capital budget appropriations over the

five year plan with projects sorted among eight capital project categories – Bus Garages, Buses, Equipment & Vehicles,

Facilities Improvements, Other Projects, Preventive Maintenance/Operating Reimbursements, Rail Projects, and Transit

Centers. For the approved 2017 CIP, two categories comprise $40.50 million, or 63.2 percent, of the combined $64.10 million

capital budget appropriations. The largest with $20.50 million is the Rail Project category, followed by the Preventive

Maintenance/Operating Expense projects category with $20.0 million. These are followed by the Bus Improvement category

with $12.84 million, and four remaining categories totaling $10.75 million within the approved capital budget as shown in

Figure 101.

Reflecting the challenging financial picture the Authority faces, the largest budgeted category over the five‐year CIP is the

grant funded reimbursements of preventive maintenance and other operating expenses with $100.00 million, or 26.04

percent of the CIP budget over the five years. This is followed by Bus Improvement Programs with $98.80 million, 25.5

percent, and the Rail Projects with $95.16 million, or 24.78 percent, followed by the other remaining categories to a lesser

degree as prioritized by the needs assessment and corresponding allocation of available capital funds.

Bus Garages0.0%

Buses20.0%

Equipment & Vehicles4.1%

Facilities Improvements

8.6%

Other Projects3.5%PM/Op. Reimb.

31.2%

Rail Projects32.0%

Transit Centers0.5%

2017 Capital Projects by Category (Millions)


Figure 101: Capital Projects by Category

RTA CAPITAL FUND

The RTA Capital Fund supports smaller capital projects and includes more routine expenditures. Projects within this fund

are generally less than $150,000 and have a useful life not exceeding five years. The RTA Capital Fund is 100 percent locally

funded, almost exclusively through transfers of sales & use tax revenue from the Operating Budget. Items included in the

RTA Capital Fund are segregated into two types:

Routine Capital, which includes the acquisition of non‐revenue vehicles and small equipment

Asset Maintenance, which covers small rehabilitation projects to maintain the Authority’s existing assets.

Figure 103 trends the annual fund balance for the RTA Capital Fund. Other than a small amount of investment income, the

main source of revenue is the sales & use tax revenue transfer from the General Fund to the RTA Capital Fund, which began

in 1989. Anticipated revenue in FY 2017 will include $13.27 million of programmed transfers from the General Fund and

investment income of $20,000. The transfer amount, in combination with the General Fund transfer of $19.28 million to the

Bond Retirement Fund, brings the total commitment to Capital to $32.55 million, or 15 percent of the projected 2017 sales

& use tax revenue.

Budgeted FY 2017 expenditures within the RTA Capital Fund of $13.64 million include $1.90 million for Asset Maintenance

or facilities projects, $2.20 million for Routine Capital or equipment purchases, and a $9.54 million transfer into the RTA

Development Fund for use on providing the local match on grant awards and 100 percent locally funded projects. The

estimated 2017 ending balance of $2.03 million is a decrease from prior years due to an increase in asset capital to maintain

a state of good repair of facilities and sustain ongoing operations at various districts throughout the Authority.

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Budget Plan Plan Plan Plan

Bus Garages $0.00 $2.40 $5.45 $0.00 $0.00 $7.85

Buses $12.84 $21.96 $20.00 $20.00 $24.00 $98.80

Equipment & Vehicles $2.63 $8.06 $7.10 $4.85 $4.29 $26.94

Facilities Improvements $5.53 $8.77 $12.81 $7.24 $7.93 $42.28

Other Projects $2.27 $2.27 $2.27 $2.27 $2.27 $11.36

PM/Oper. Reimb. $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $100.00

Rail Projects $20.50 $24.97 $25.21 $13.32 $11.18 $95.16

Transit Centers $0.32 $0.30 $0.30 $0.30 $0.30 $1.52

Total $64.09 $88.73 $93.14 $67.98 $69.97 $383.91

2017 - 21Category

Figure 102


Figure 103: RTA Capital Fund Balance Analysis

ASSET MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

Asset Maintenance consists of locally funded projects that maintain, repair, or rehabilitate an existing facility of the

Authority. These include projects of smaller scope, duration and expense than those included in the RTA Development Fund.

The duration of these projects is often less than one year with the cost generally not exceeding $150,000, and a useful life of

less than five years.

The FY 2017 budget appropriation for Asset Maintenance projects is $1.78 million, representing 2.8 percent of the overall FY

2017 Capital Improvement Budget as represented in Figure 104. Most of this amount is budgeted within two organizational

areas of the Authority; Engineering & Project Development and Asset & Configuration Management. Engineering & Project

Develop is responsible for coordinating larger construction‐related asset maintenance projects throughout the entire

Authority, which lends to managing a majority of Asset Maintenance Funds at an amount of $850,000, or 47.9 percent. Asset

and Configuration Management manages $410,000, or 23.1 percent of all Asset Maintenance projects, budgeted within the

for smaller cost facilities projects within the Operations Division and the Main Office.

Remaining budgeted projects within Asset Maintenance are for location specific facilities projects, focused energy efficiency

or lighting retrofits throughout the Authority, or in the Asset Maintenance Contingency project for unanticipated facilities

improvements needed throughout the year.

Figure 103


Figure 104: Capital Project Budgets by Fund

ROUTINE CAPITAL PROJECTS

This category includes the purchase of vehicles and equipment, where each unit has a value of at least $5,000 and a useful

life greater than one year. Furthermore, these items are generally less than $150,000 in cost, in many cases have a useful

life of five years or less, and are designed to efficiently meet the identified operational equipment needs within the General

Fund or Operating Budget. As such, the expectation for Routine Capital projects is the approved budget appropriations are

fully committed, if not expensed within the calendar year.

As indicated in Figure CIP‐8, the budget appropriation for Routine Capital projects accounts for $2.14 million, or 3.3 percent,

of the 2017 CIP Budget. Reflecting the support of daily operations, the greatest portion of the budget appropriation for

Routine Capital projects in the 2017 CIP is within the Operations Division, which has a combined $1.57 million, or 73.5 percent,

of the total. More than half, $825,000 is programmed for the non‐revenue vehicle lease or replacement program followed

by $524,000 for equipment pool projects throughout various Operating Division Departments, and a budgeted Transit Police

Department security pool program of $225,000.


Project 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2017-21Number Budget Plan Plan Plan Plan Total

31 Paratransit DistrictInterior Garage Cleaning/Painting P32315079 $125,000 $0 $0 $0 $125,000

$125,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $125,000

32 Rail DistrictWFL Booth Replacements (5) P32325079 $75,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $75,000

$75,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $75,000

33 Asset & Configuration Mgt.Administration Facilities Maint. Pool P32335159 $60,000 $60,000 $70,000 $70,000 $70,000 $330,000

Elevator/Escalator Maintenance Pool P32335259 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $500,000

Operating Facilities Maintenance Pool P32335359 $125,000 $125,000 $135,000 $135,000 $160,000 $680,000

Passenger Facilities Maintenance Pool P32335459 $125,000 $125,000 $135,000 $135,000 $160,000 $680,000

$410,000 $410,000 $440,000 $440,000 $490,000 $2,190,000

39 Fleet ManagementInstall High Speed Doors (#15 & #19) P32395079 $115,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $115,000

Replace Skylights & Smoke Hatches P32395089 $0 $172,000 $0 $0 $0 $172,000

Bus Districts Lift Rebuilds/Rehab's P47395059 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $250,000

$165,000 $222,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $537,000

57 Programming & PlanningTransit Waiting Environment P28575059 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $250,000

$50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $250,000

80 Engineering & Project Dev.Facilities - ADA Projects P32805049 $100,000 $125,000 $125,000 $150,000 $150,000 $650,000

Passenger Facilities Maint. Pool P32805149 $250,000 $300,000 $300,000 $325,000 $325,000 $1,500,000

Operating Facilities Maint. Pool P32805249 $500,000 $525,000 $525,000 $550,000 $550,000 $2,650,000

Paratransit Parking Lot Expansion P32805189 $0 $0 $170,000 $0 $0 $170,000

$850,000 $950,000 $1,120,000 $1,025,000 $1,025,000 $4,970,000

67 OFFICE OF MGT. & BUDGETEnergy Retrofits P32675339 $0 $100,000 $0 $100,000 $0 $200,000

Asset Maintenance Contingency P49995059 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $500,000

$100,000 $200,000 $100,000 $200,000 $100,000 $700,000

TOTAL ASSET MAINTENANCE $1,775,000 $1,832,000 $1,760,000 $1,765,000 $1,715,000 $8,847,000

GREATER CLEVELAND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY2017 - 2021 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

RTA CAPITAL FUNDASSET MAINTENANCE (FACILITIES) PROJECTS

Department / Project Name


Project 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2017-21Number Budget Plan Plan Plan Plan Total

12 ExecutiveNOACA Dues P49120149 57,700 58,500 58,500 58,500 59,000 292,200

CLE Works Dues P49120249 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 150,000

Outside Legal Services - Leg. Review P49120349 90,000 90,000 91,500 91,500 92,500 455,500

177,700 178,500 180,000 180,000 181,500 897,700

32 Rail DistrictRail District Equipment Pool P47320149 222,000 90,000 90,000 30,000 20,000 452,000

222,000 90,000 90,000 30,000 20,000 452,000

34 Transit PoliceSecurity Improvements Pool P44340249 225,000 225,000 225,000 225,000 225,000 1,125,000

225,000 225,000 225,000 225,000 225,000 1,125,000

39 Fleet ManagementNon-Revenue Vehicle Imp. Program P46390159 125,000 125,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 700,000

NRVIP - Lease Payments P46390169 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 400,000 2,000,000

Overhead Catenary Repair Vehicle P46390279 300,000 0 0 0 0 300,000

Fleet Management Equipment Pool P47390349 82,000 60,000 35,000 35,000 40,000 252,000

907,000 585,000 585,000 585,000 590,000 3,252,000

46 Hayden DistrictHayden District Equipment Pool P47460169 185,000 0 50,000 40,000 50,000 325,000

185,000 0 50,000 40,000 50,000 325,000

49 Triskett District

Triskett District Equipment Pool P47490159 35,000 0 20,000 35,000 20,000 110,000

35,000 0 20,000 35,000 20,000 110,000

61 Information Technology P32805189

IT Systems Development Pool P42610149 125,000 130,000 130,000 130,000 130,000 645,000

PC Replacement Program P42610169 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 250,000

Thin Client Replacement Program P42610179 75,000 0 0 0 0 75,000

Kiosk Replacement Program P42610189 0 125,000 125,000 75,000 25,000 350,000

Laser Printer Replacement Program P42610299 0 0 35,000 35,000 35,000 105,000

250,000 305,000 340,000 290,000 240,000 1,425,00062 SUPPORT SERVICES

Office Equipment/Furniture Pool P43620149 40,000 40,000 40,000 45,000 45,000 210,000

40,000 40,000 40,000 45,000 45,000 210,000

67 OFFICE OF MGT. & BUDGETRoutine Capital Contingency P49990159 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 500,000

100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 500,000

TOTAL ROUTINE CAPITAL 2,141,700 1,523,500 1,630,000 1,530,000 1,471,500 8,296,700

RTA CAPITAL FUND TOTAL 3,916,700 3,355,500 3,390,000 3,295,000 3,186,500 17,143,700

ROUTINE CAPITAL (EQUIPMENT) PROJECTS


RTA CAPITAL FUND

Department / Project Name


RTA DEVELOPMENT FUND

The Authority’s Capital Improvement Funds are used to account for the acquisition, construction, replacement, repair, and

renovation of major capital facilities and equipment. The RTA Development Fund is the larger capital fund that include

rehabilitation & expansion projects that are greater than $150,000 and have a useful life of more than five years. This Fund

is primarily, but not exclusively, supported through Federal grant awards providing 80 percent of the project funds, and

requiring a 20 percent local match.

Federal Capital grants received by the Authority normally requires local match funds, normally 20 percent, be set aside and

available for Capital Improvement projects. During the budget process, local match requirements, as well as potential locally

funded projects, are reviewed and resources provided through Sales &Use Tax contributions transferred from the RTA

Capital Fund, available proceeds from debt sales, and interest income.

In 2014, $11.73 million was transferred from the RTA Capital Fund to the RTA Development Fund to provide the local match

for Operating Budget expense reimbursements and to cover other locally funded expenditures within the RTA Development

Fund. The transfer decreased slightly to $11.65 million in FY 2015, and again in FY 2016 to $5.3 million. The amount

remained relatively stable in FY 2017 at $9.54 million, and $9.69 million in FY 2018 before increasing to $10.56 million in FY

2019 due to the financial demands of the Authority’s capital program.

Other local funding sources include debt service, revenue bonds, and interest income. The Authority last issued debt, $25.0

million of Revenue Bonds, in FY 2016 to support capital project activities and an additional debt service of approximately

$30.00 million is expected in FY 2017. Interest income has varied over the years from a high of $185,574 in FY 2015 to an

estimated low of $53,000 in FY 2017 due to fluctuations in the interest rates and fund balance over the years

Figure CIP‐9 presents the fund balance analysis for the RTA Development Fund. The balance typically fluctuates depending

upon new debt service issuances, the Authority receiving a competitive non‐formula grant award, and scheduled

construction activities for the year. At the end of FY 2013, the fund balance was $38.92 million. Capital construction

activities over the following years drew the fund balance down as it declined to $23.91 million at the end of FY 2014. It

increased in FY 2015 due to the issuance of Revenue bonds and decreased to $23.02 million at the end of FY 2016. It is

expected to again increase to $32.04 million in FY 2017 due to a planned debt service in that year.

Federal funding resources flow into the Authority through the FTA Grant funds. When grant‐funded capital improvements

are made, funds are paid to the Authority from the Federal Government via wire transfer. Payments to vendors are then

paid from the Authority, and the assets acquired are accounted for in the capital funds. A similar process is in place to draw

down State grant funds.

As reflected in the fund balance statement Figure 105, various funding sources including Federal capital grants, a planned

debt service, State Capital grants, and 100‐percent local funds will help support expected expenditures or cash outlays of

$91.3 million in 2017. Of particular note, the expenditures within the Fund Balance Analysis are presented on a cash basis

and represent estimates of the actual cash flow. Thus, the expenditure estimates differ from the budget appropriations

included in the 2017‐21 CIP, which are based upon the establishment of the necessary budget appropriation for the capital

projects.


Figure 105: RTA Development Fund Balance Analysis

$0.00

$20.00

$40.00

$60.00

$80.00

$100.00

$120.00

$140.00

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

RTA Development Fund Balance Analysis (Millions)

Total Revenue Total Expenditures Ending Balance



Total Revenue $72.03 $118.19 $68.03 $100.32 $73.91 $108.28

Total Resources $110.96 $142.10 $110.52 $123.34 $105.95 $117.63


Ending Balance $23.91 $42.49 $23.02 $32.04 $9.35 $17.93


Beginning Balance 38,924,890 23,911,529 42,499,967 23,021,880 32,041,453 9,347,692 Revenue Debt Service Proceeds 0 30,000,000 0 30,000,000 0 25,000,000 Transfer from RTA Capital Fund 11,734,255 11,649,255 5,334,255 9,536,915 9,688,581 10,560,555 Investment Income 54,038 185,574 53,000 53,000 43,000 52,000 Federal Capital Grants 58,199,720 75,819,587 61,250,000 59,345,000 62,790,000 71,285,500 State Capital Grants 2,046,063 534,487 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 1,384,658 Other Revenue 0 9,000 0 0 0 0

Total Revenue 72,034,076 118,197,903 68,021,913 100,319,573 73,906,239 108,282,713

Total Resources 110,958,966 142,109,432 110,521,880 123,341,453 105,947,692 117,630,405

Expenditures Capital Outlay 87,047,437 99,609,466 87,500,000 91,300,000 96,600,000 99,700,000 Other Expenditures 0 0 0 0 0 0


RTA Development Fund Balance Analysis


RTA DEVELOPMENT FUND PROJECTS

The total budget appropriation of $60.18 million for RTA Development Fund projects accounts for most of the Authority’s

Capital Improvement Budget as allocated for 2017, , as seen in Figure CIP‐8. The inclusion of capital projects within this fund

is based upon the establishment of budget appropriation authority and includes projects that may have already received

grant‐funding, projects in the preliminary application stage, those included in the Transportation Improvement Program

(TIP), larger projects supported by 100 percent local funds, or projects without an identified funding source.

The following highlights some of the larger programmed RTA Development Fund Improvement Projects programmed for

FY 2017. Please refer to pages at the end of this section for a complete list of projects included within the five‐year RTA

Development Fund CIP.

BUS GARAGES ‐ $0.0 MILLION

There are various ongoing projects within this category, including those preparing the Hayden Garage and the Central Bus

Maintenance Facility for the CNG fueled buses and bus storage lots at the Hayden and CBM Garages. No new projects are

included in the 2017 CIP, but the out years of the 2017‐21 CIP includes two projects to prepare the Triskett Garage for the

introduction of CNG fueled buses currently scheduled for FY 2018.

BUS/PARATRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS ‐ $12.85 MILLION

The 2017 CIP focuses vehicle reliability improvements through a multi‐year bus spare parts program, which meets objectives

for bus replacements and the SGR. Programmed capital budget appropriations include $10.04 million to purchase twenty

nine (29) Diesel engine buses, 20 Paratransit MV1’s and $552,000 for bus and Bus spare parts. Depending upon the success

in securing additional non‐formula grant funds for replacement buses, there is a possibility the Board will be requested to

approve an increase of budget appropriation to this category in the second half of 2017.

EQUIPMENT & VEHICLES ‐ $670,600

All budget appropriation within this category of the RTA Development Fund in FY 2017 are for the continuation of prior year

grant funded information technology projects including Data Center, Intranet Development and Network improvements.

FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS ‐ $3.76 MILLION

The combined Facilities Improvements budget appropriation of $3.76 million in 2017 concentrates on rehabilitation projects

of track bridges throughout the Authority’s Rail System. Including $2.09 million for the initial phase of reconstructing

Viaduct Bridge Drainage & Concrete repair project, $460,000 for Bridge Inspection Program and evaluation of the track

bridge at Lorain Avenue.

OTHER PROJECTS ‐ $2.09 MILLION

The 2017 budget for this project category includes two unfunded projects – a $2.0 million budget contingency project and a

$93,750 for various transportation studies depending upon the availability of grant funds.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE / OPERATING BUDGET REIMBURSEMENTS ‐ $20.0 MILLION

This category includes the preventive maintenance reimbursements to the General Fund. This category includes formula

and non‐formula grant funded reimbursements for various eligible activities within the General Fund with a 2017

budget appropriation for $20.0 million.


RAIL PROJECTS‐ $20.49 MILLION

In FY 2017, the Rail Projects category includes a wide diversity of capital projects and, as in most prior CIP’s, is one of the

largest of the CIP. Major programmed areas within this category include $9.17 million for various track rehabilitation

projects, a combined $7.92 million for rail train controls, electrical and signal improvements systems throughout the

Authority, and $3.4 million for various station rehabilitation projects.

Major station projects in FY 2017 include $3.40 million for the first of two years of funding to reconstruct the Heavy & Light

Rail at East 34th Street Station. The $9.17 million for track rehabilitation and reconstruction projects includes $3.84 million

for Red Line Track West reconstruction at West 75th –W. 98th, $1.19 million for Tower City Track 10 & 13, $2.05 million

reconstruction of track at Buckeye/Woodhill Station, and $2.09 million for various rail engineering and infrastructure

improvements.

TRANSIT CENTERS / BUS LOOPS – $320,000

The 2017 capital budget includes $320,000 for various grant funded passenger enhancements throughout the Authority.

Many of the enhancement funds are allocated for Bus Shelter, Landscaping, and ADA Access.

TRANSIT 2025 LONG RANGE PLAN

The purpose of the Long Range Plan of the Authority is to support its Mission and Policy goals by providing a guidance for

developing a balanced, multi‐modal transit system that meets the mobility needs of Cuyahoga County residents and all

visitors safely, efficiently, and cost‐effectively.

The original plan was drafted in 1998 and updated in 2004 to reflect the existing system’s state of repair; the future plans of

key stakeholders, and the economic conditions of the region. In 2008, RTA initiated an update of the Long Range Plan, titled

the “GCRTA Strategic Plan” that was completed in 2012. The goals of the Plan are to help determine the course of projects

and services within GCRTA that can result in the increase of ridership, increase in revenues, and bring the system into a state

of good repair while being grounded in the economic and the financial reality of public transportation funding in Northeast

Ohio.

The existing Key Transit 2025 project elements include the following:

Exploring the feasibility of additional Bus Rapid Transit projects in other major travel corridors;

Completing the Transit Center Network; Initiating Transit‐Oriented Development Projects;

Continuing to implement the Transit Waiting Environment (TWE) Program;

Reconstructing various Rapid Transit Stations as part of the FTA ADA Key Station requirement agreement.


PROJECT TOTALSCATEGORY / PROJECT NAME NUMBER 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2017-2021

BUS GARAGESBUS GARAGES

CBM - Install 3 Post Vehicle Lift & Fall Protection P16390180 0 450,000 0 0 0 450,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 450,000

Triskett CNG Building Compliance P22800160 0 1,950,000 1,950,000 0 0 3,900,000FY 2018 100% Local Funds 1,950,000FY 2019 100% Local Funds 1,950,000

Triskett CNG Loading Station P22800190 0 0 3,500,000 0 0 3,500,000FY 2019 100% Local Funds 3,500,000

TOTAL - BUS GARAGES 0 2,400,000 5,450,000 0 0 7,850,000

BUS REPLACEMENTSBUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

2015-2017 Bus Improvement Program P11390170 10,044,945 0 0 0 0 10,044,945

FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 9,894,945

FY 2017 Local Funds 150,000

2018-2020 Bus Improvement Program 60,000,000 P11390180 0 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 0 60,000,000

SFY 2017 ODOT CMAQ Grant 4,328,125SFY 2017 ODOT UTP Award 1,730,822FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grants 4,321,961FY 2018 Local Funds 125,000FY 2018 (TBD) 9,494,092



RTA DEVELOPMENT FUNDANTICIPATED FUNDING SOURCE

CALENDAR YEAR



2021-2023 Bus Improvement Program 65,000,000 P11390110 0 0 0 0 24,000,000 24,000,000


Sub-Total: Bus Improvement Program 10,046,962 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 24,000,000 94,046,962

PARATRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMParatransit Buses P12390170 2,247,650 1,958,227 0 0 0 4,205,877

FFY 2014 Grant Revision 2,247,650 0FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 1,958,227

Sub-Total: Paratransit Improvement Program 2,247,650 1,958,227 0 0 0 4,205,877

BUS SPARE PARTS PROGRAMBus Capital Spare Parts Program P16390140 132,000 0 0 0 0 132,000

FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 132,000

BRT Bus Capital Spare Parts Program P16390150 420,000 0 0 0 0 420,000FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 420,000

Sub-Total: Bus Spare Parts Program 552,000 0 0 0 0 552,000

TOTAL - BUSES 12,846,612 21,958,227 20,000,000 20,000,000 24,000,000 98,804,839



CALENDAR YEAR



EQUIPMENT & VEHICLESMANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

Ultramain Version 9 Upgrade P42350180 0 1,165,951 0 0 0 1,165,951FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 1,165,951

Network Infrastructure - Networks P42610120 166,600 166,600 0 0 0 333,200FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 166,600FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 166,600

Network Infrastructure - Data Center P42610220 235,000 130,000 0 0 0 365,000FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 235,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 130,000

Network Infrastructure - Phone System P42610320 189,000 0 0 0 0 189,000FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 189,000

Internet - Intranet Development P42610520 80,000 80,000 0 0 0 160,000FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 80,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 80,000

Radio/CAD/AVL System Replacement P44350190 0 5,172,625 5,650,825 3,500,000 3,000,000 17,323,450FY 2018 Competitive Grant (Pending) 5,172,625FY 2019 Competitive Grant (Pending) 5,650,825FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 3,500,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 3,000,000

Sub-Total: Management Information System 670,600 6,715,176 5,650,825 3,500,000 3,000,000 19,536,601

TOTAL - EQUIPMENT & VEHICLES 670,600 6,715,176 5,650,825 3,500,000 3,000,000 19,536,601

CALENDAR YEAR


ANTICIPATED FUNDING SOURCERTA DEVELOPMENT FUND


FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTSBRIDGE REHABILITATION

Track Bridge Rehab. - Viaduct Drainage & Concrete Repairs P20800360 2,085,600 0 0 0 0 2,085,600FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 2,085,600

Track Bridge Rehab. - Viaduct Bridge Rehab: Phase 1 P20800460 0 6,210,000 0 0 0 6,210,000FY 2018 (TBD) 6,210,000

Track Bridge Inspection Program P20800270 460,000 0 475,000 0 475,000 1,410,000FY 2017 Local Funds 460,000FY 2019 Local Funds 475,000FY 2021 Local Funds 475,000

Track Bridge Rehab. - West 117th Street P20800390 0 0 450,000 0 4,580,000 5,030,000FY 2019 Local Funds 450,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 4,580,000

Track Bridge Rehab - Ambler Avenue P20800180 0 30,000 250,000 0 0 280,000FY 2018 Local Funds 30,000FY 2019 (TBD) 250,000

Track Bridge Rehabilitation - Canal Road P20800280 0 215,000 0 2,750,000 0 2,965,000FY 2018 Local Funds 215,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 2,750,000

Track Bridge Rehabilitation - Lorain Avenue P20800270 260,000 0 3,170,000 0 0 3,430,000FY 2017 Local Funds 260,000FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 3,170,000

Sub-Total: Bridge Rehabilitation 2,805,600 6,455,000 4,345,000 2,750,000 5,055,000 21,410,600

SYSTEM-WIDE FACILITIESTower City - East Portal Concrete Repairs P26800170 501,400 0 6,230,000 0 0 6,731,400

FY 2017 Local Funds 501,400FY 2019 (TBD) 6,230,000

State of Good Repair Projects P32800250 450,000 481,724 477,061 2,721,890 1,162,890 5,293,565FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 450,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 481,724FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 477,061FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 2,721,890FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 1,162,890

Sub-Total: System-Wide Facilities 951,400 481,724 6,707,061 2,721,890 1,162,890 12,024,965

TOTAL - FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS 3,757,000 6,936,724 11,052,061 5,471,890 6,217,890 33,435,565



CALENDAR YEAR



OTHER PROJECTSOTHER

Planning Studies (Transportation for Livable Communities) P49570120 93,750 93,750 93,750 93,750 93,750 468,750SFY 2016 NOACA STP Grant 93,750SFY 2017 NOACA STP Grant 93,750SFY 2018 NOACA STP Grant 93,750SFY 2019 NOACA STP Grant 93,750SFY 2020 NOACA STP Grant 93,750

RTA Development Fund Contingency TBD P49990150 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 10,000,0002017 - 21 (TBD)

TOTAL - OTHER PROJECTS 2,093,750 2,093,750 2,093,750 2,093,750 2,093,750 10,468,750

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE/OPERATING REIMBURSEMENTSPREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE/OPERATING REIMBURSEMENTS

Preventive Maintenance Expenses P516701X0 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 100,000,000FFY 2015 Federal Formula Grant 320,796FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 19,679,204FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 19,550,000FFY 201X Federal Formula Grant (TBD) 450,000FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 20,000,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 20,000,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 20,000,000

TOTAL - PREVENTIVE MAINT./OPERATING REIMB. 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 100,000,000

ANTICIPATED FUNDING SOURCE

2017 - 2021 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANRTA DEVELOPMENT FUND

GREATER CLEVELAND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

CALENDAR YEAR


RAIL PROJECTSELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OCS Replacement and Upgrade Plan P21320150 100,000 153,409 0 0 0 253,409FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 100,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 153,409

Substation Replacement - Puritas Avenue P21800490 697,790 0 0 0 0 697,790FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 697,790

Substation Replacement - Van Aken/Warrensville P21800160 2,060,400 0 0 0 0 2,060,400FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 2,060,400

Substation Replacement - East 120th Street P21800240 165,400 3,700,000 0 0 0 3,865,400FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 165,400FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 3,700,000

Substation Replacement - W. 117th Street P21800390 0 151,000 3,900,000 0 0 4,051,000FY 2018 Local Funds 151,000FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 3,900,000

Replace W. 25th / Ohio City Transformer / Rectifier P21800180 0 526,191 0 0 0 526,191FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 526,191

Substation Improvement Program P21800200 0 0 0 3,850,000 3,850,000 7,700,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 3,850,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 3,850,000

SCADA System Upgrade P42800170 24,000 1,332,600 0 0 0 1,356,600FY 2017 Local Funds 24,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 701,724FY 2018 Local Funds 630,876

Sub-Total: Electrical System 3,047,590 5,863,200 3,900,000 3,850,000 3,850,000 20,510,790

TRAIN CONTROL / SIGNALSCAB Signal System Replacement (Railcars) P26800170 0 985,750 0 0 0 985,750

FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 985,750

Cab Signaling - East 79th to Shaker Square P26800240 0 3,804,514 0 0 0 3,804,514FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 3,804,514

Red Line Signal System Replacement (Design) P26800280 0 1,000,000 0 0 0 1,000,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 1,000,000

Fiber Optic System Software/Hardware Upgrades P26800640 4,875,450 2,810,600 0 0 0 7,686,050FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 4,875,450FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 2,810,600

Sub-Total: Train Control / Signals 4,875,450 8,600,864 0 0 0 13,476,314

CALENDAR YEAR






RAIL PROJECTS - ContinuedTRACK REHABILITATION

Track Reconstruction - Buckeye/Woodhill Station P23800570 2,046,014 0 0 0 0 2,046,014SFY 2016 ODOT Grant 153,274SFY 2017 ODOT Grant 1,892,740

Rail Profile Grinding Program P23320170 488,029 1,488,534 1,779,719 0 0 3,756,282FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 488,029FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 1,488,534FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 1,779,719

Rail Infrastructure Program P23320150 944,420 686,458 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 4,630,878FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 944,420FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 686,458FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 1,000,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 1,000,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 1,000,000

Westpark Diamond Crossover Rebuild P23800160 459,270 0 0 0 0 459,270FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 459,270

On-Call Rail Engineering Services P23800240 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 1,000,000FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 200,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 200,000FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 200,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 200,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 200,000

On-Call Rail Maintenance Services P23800340 0 500,000 0 500,000 0 1,000,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 500,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 500,000

GREATER CLEVELAND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

ANTICIPATED FUNDING SOURCECALENDAR YEAR

2017 - 2021 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANRTA DEVELOPMENT FUND


RAIL PROJECTS - ContinuedTRACK REHABILITATION

Tower City Tracks 10 & 13 Reconstruction P23800470 1,189,000 0 13,794,000 200,000 0 15,183,000FY 2017 Local Funds 841,712FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 347,288FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 12,952,896FY 2019 Local Funds 841,104FY 2020 (TBD) 200,000

LR Retaining Wall - Buckeye/Woodhill - Shaker Sq.: Ph. 2 P23800590 0 0 1,410,000 1,441,000 0 2,851,000FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 1,410,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 1,441,000

Red Line Track West Reconstruction (W.75th - W.98th) P23800380 3,842,869 0 0 0 0 3,842,869FFY 2017 Competive Grant (Pending) 3,842,869

Red Line Track West Reconstruction (Viaduct - W. 30th) P23800X90 0 0 3,125,000 0 0 3,125,000SFY 2018 OTPPP 3,125,000

Red Line Track W. Reconst. (W. Bound W. 117th - Triskett) P23800X00 0 0 0 1,600,000 0 1,600,000SFY 2019 OTPPP 1,600,000

Track Reconstruction Program P23800X80 0 3,125,000 0 4,525,000 6,125,000 13,775,000SFY 2017 OTPPP 3,125,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 3,000,000SFY 2019 OTPPP 1,525,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 3,000,000SFY 2020 OTPPP 3,125,000

Sub-Total: Track Rehabilitation 9,169,602 5,999,992 21,308,719 9,466,000 7,325,000 53,269,313

RAIL STATION REHABILITATIONFarnsleigh Station Reconstruction P24800360 0 1,671,929 0 0 0 1,671,929

FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 1,671,929

East 34th Station Reconstruction P24800540 3,400,000 0 0 0 0 3,400,000FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 3,400,000

Sub-Total: Rail Station Rehabilitation 3,400,000 1,671,929 0 0 0 5,071,929


CALENDAR YEAR





RAIL PROJECTS - ContinuedRAIL VEHICLE FLEET

Replacement Choppers - Breda Cars P16320180 0 2,832,500 0 0 0 2,832,500FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 2,832,500

Sub-Total: Rail Vehicle Fleet 0 2,832,500 0 0 0 2,832,500

TOTAL - RAIL PROJECTS 20,492,642 24,968,485 25,208,719 13,316,000 11,175,000 95,160,846

TRANSIT CENTERSEnhanced ADA Access (Enhancement Item) P30800240 320,000 300,000 300,000 300,000 300,000 1,520,000

FFY 2016 Federal Formula Grant 320,000FFY 2017 Federal Formula Grant 300,000FFY 2018 Federal Formula Grant 300,000FFY 2019 Federal Formula Grant 300,000FFY 2020 Federal Formula Grant 300,000

TOTAL - TRANSIT CENTERS 320,000 300,000 300,000 300,000 300,000 1,520,000

TOTAL RTA DEVELOPMENT FUND 60,180,604 85,372,362 89,755,355 64,681,640 66,786,640 366,776,601

TOTAL RTA CAPITAL FUND 3,916,700 3,355,500 3,390,000 3,295,000 3,186,500 17,143,700

TOTAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 64,097,304 88,727,862 93,145,355 67,976,640 69,973,140 383,920,301

CALENDAR YEAR



Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority 1240 West Sixth Street • Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1302 rideRTA.com

greater cleveland regional transit authority operating and … · 2017-04-11 · greater cleveland...

Documents